Life Hack: What to do if a pipe freezes and how to prevent further damage if it bursts

When the temperature drops, your pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Here's what to do if that happens

Knowing the basics of dealing with frozen pipes can save you a lot of headaches in winter

With the weather getting much colder, now is a good time to get your pipes ready for any freezing conditions that may come our way in winter. Unprotected pipes and dripping taps can freeze and crack when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, affecting your water supply. Cracked pipes can then leak when the temperature rises, causing more damage.

If one or more of your taps have stopped working, Irish Water suggests asking your neighbours if they are also experiencing issues. If they are then there may be an issue with the water supply, but if they are not, you could have a frozen pipe.

If you do not feel confident to tackle this yourself, always call a plumber. Otherwise, here are some simple steps to find and thaw a frozen pipe.

What to do if your pipes are frozen 

First, turn off your water supply to limit any damage. Find and turn off your inside stop valve and then turn off the stopcock in your cold water tank, usually found in an attic.

Check the water pressure in taps and toilets — use the cold taps only in this situation, never the hot tap — and search for where you think the frozen pipe may be. It will likely be a visible pipe that is not insulated, feels very cold to the touch, or is located close to drafts or damage. Once you have found the affected pipe, turn on the cold taps nearest to it to relieve some of the pressure on it.

#Life Hacks

Life is hard enough without being aware of these simple life hacks. Read on.

Move anything near the tap that could be damaged or broken if the pipe were to burst (better safe than sorry) before gently thawing the pipe if it is not cracked or broken. Use a hairdryer on its lowest setting for this, applying the heat from the end nearest to the tap. Do not turn on the immersion, central heating, etc, to thaw a pipe.

What to do if your pipe has burst 

If your pipe burst, your first step is as above: turn off the water supply. Turn on all taps and flush the toilet(s) to drain the system of water, and switch off the immersion, central heating, etc, if on. When the water heating system is completely off, only then should you turn on the hot taps to further drain the system. If the pipe is leaking near any electrical outlet, switch off the main. Contact an electrician if you think water has entered the switch.

You can temporarily repair a burst pipe by binding it with a cloth or tape. Contact a plumber for a permanent fix. Finally, ensure your hot water system has been refilled before you switch any water heating system back on.