Wrap up your home this winter

13th November 2015

With winter fast approaching, WaterSafe, Bournemouth Water and the Met Office are advising homeowners to wrap up their homes as well as themselves to stay safe this season.

Cold temperatures can cause water inside pipes to freeze – leading to bursts, floods and the misery of being without water for drinking, cooking and washing.

The message to take action now comes as part of the Government’s Get Ready for Winter Campaign, with WaterSafe and Bournemouth Water urging homeowners to wrap up their homes with pipe lagging and insulation to stay safe and healthy this winter.

Mel Harrowsmith, Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office, said: “While it’s too early to predict what weather this winter will bring, the Get Ready for Winter pages are designed to provide useful information that helps the UK public to be prepared and safe during the winter months, whatever the weather. 

“We can't change the weather but we can encourage everyone to make the most of it using our accurate forecasts and advice from our partners around the country.”

There are lots of simple steps households can take to prepare for a cold winter and now is a great time to get ahead and make sure homes are snug. 

Bournemouth Water, the Met Office and WaterSafe, the register for approved plumbing businesses in the UK, have put together a list of top tips to help homeowners and businesses beat the winter blues:

• Wrap up pipes and water tanks with lagging – DIY stores have everything you need
• Fix dripping taps – even a small trickle can result in a frozen pipe
• Find your home’s stop tap and make sure you can turn it off – most are under the kitchen sink
• Leave the heating on low if you go away
• Check your central heating boiler has been serviced
• Keep the name of a plumber handy – type in your postcode at watersafe.org.uk to find your nearest accredited plumbing business.

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “If the worst happens and you do have a burst pipe, then turn off the water at the stop tap, allow the thawed water to escape through your tap as normal and call a plumber who is qualified to work with the drinking water in your home.”

Households looking for a trusted plumber to help them this winter are advised to use the online directory WaterSafe, which is backed by all water companies in the UK.

Homeowners are urged to take a few simple steps to wrap up homes now to ensure a stress-free festive season and avoid wasted time and money mopping up floods and going without water.  And the community is reminded to keep an eye on family, friends and vulnerable neighbours too, and if you’re out and about and spot a leaking pipe, to please call Bournemouth Water’s freephone Leakline on 0800 389 5110.

The Wrap up for Winter is part of a wider Government campaign - find out more at metoffice.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter.

To find a qualified plumber, log on to watersafe.org.uk or call 0333 207 9030.