Frozen water pipes are a big problem in homes and businesses in cold weather . The initial problem is no water supply – but this can be followed by burst pipes and flooding.  A frozen pipe doesn’t leak, so you’ll only discover the damage after the ice melts, and a ruptured pipe can cause a great deal of damage. Here’s a guide on what to do if you suspect your pipes have frozen.

Turn off the water at the main stop cock (stop valve): this is normally found near where the water pipe enters the building, often under the kitchen sink. It may be outside the house – and you will need a special tool to turn it off.  If you don’t know where it is – find out now. Ask a neighbour where theirs is.
Do this even if you only suspect your pipes are frozen, since they could also have burst, and, by turning off the water, you will reduce the amount of water that can escape, and so minimise damage to your home.

Examine the water system for fractures in pipes or any sign of pipes being pulled from joints. Ice on the outside of a pipe is often an indication that it has burst.#

Try and empty the cold water tank by opening taps that are working and flushing toilets. This will reduce the amount of water in the cold water tank – and therefore reduce the amout left to cause damage.

Thawing Pipes : Before you start to thaw the system, try and remove or protect  items that might be damaged by  water. Cover electrical junction boxes and wiring.
Switch off the central heating and any other water heating installations at the same time.

Begin thawing the pipe from the tap side of the frozen area, by warming it gently, and work back towards the header tank.  Use  a hairdryer or hot water bottle or cloths soaked in hot water .  Heat the house with appliances not connected with domestic hot water or water-based central heating.

If  you do get water leaks coming through the ceiling, collect it in buckets. If the ceiling starts to bulge, pierce the plaster with a broom handle to let the water through and stop it spreading in the ceiling.

Keeping your home warm this winter is a priority for all of us. The freezing temperatures mean we are all getting through the supply of wood , coal  and turf much quicker.
Sometimes picking up the odd bale of briquettes or bag of coal  from the garage can be a pain – so why not just order in bulk online and get it delivered to your house.
Woodies sell a range of solid fuels – logs, wood briquettes, coal and wood pellets.
You can order as much as you want – with free delivery on orders over €300. (€15 on orders under €300)  See the solid fuels available at Woodies here . Look under Home Decor – Home Heating then select Fuels

The recent extreme cold weather can cause major problems if water pipes in the  home freeze. Any exposed pipes, inside or outside your home, may be at risk from freezing and splitting in cold weather.

Preventing frozen pipes

• Insulate external pipes and any internal ones that are exposed to freezing, paying attention to corners and elbows of pipework as these tend to be the most exposed. Woodies sell this easy to fit  Pipe Insulation
• Turn off any indoor valves on pipes leading to taps outside your home. Then open the outside tap and leave it open to let any water drain. This will ensure there’s no water in the pipes to freeze.
• In cold weather, check all your taps in your home from time to time. If little or no water flows there may be frozen water in the pipes.
• If you are going to be  away your home during the winter, ask someone to check your home – this should help ensure burst pipes are spotted early and any damage is kept to a minimum.

Preventing water leaks

• Know where to find your stopcock and use it to cut off the flow of water if a pipe starts leaking.
• Fix any dripping taps as soon as possible to avoid a more a serious escape of water.

Central heating

* If you are away from home in the winter, set your central heating to come on for a short period each day to prevent freezing. Don’t turn the heating off while you’re away.

Loft insulation

• Apply foam insulation to pipes in your loft and make sure joints and bends are covered.  Woodies sell this easy to fit  Pipe Insulation
• Make sure your water storage tank is well insulated, particularly if you think it’s in a position where it may be at risk from freezing in very cold weather.  Woodies also sell Cold Water Tank Jackets .
• When the weather is particularly cold, open the loft hatch to allow warmer air from the rest of your home to circulate in the loft.