Only a third of people have so far taken steps to prepare their home for cold weather, according to a recent poll by Bath-based Wessex Water.

Knowing where your stop tap is can be very useful in emergencies
With temperatures expected to drop sharply after this milder spell, Wessex Water is advising its customers to check their homes now for leaks and take simple steps like applying lagging to pipes in exposed areas.
A Twitter poll by the company revealed that nearly two-thirds of its customers had never lagged their pipes, while a recent survey by plumbing accreditation scheme WaterSafe showed only 30% of homeowners nationally knew where their stop tap is.
Water leaking from a pipe or tap can become completely frozen when temperatures plummet, resulting in a potential block or burst.
Frozen and burst pipes can cause flooding damage and leave homes without water, but by checking for leaks you can minimise the risk during the colder months.
You may have a leak in your property if you notice:
- A big drop in water pressure
- Avhissing noise near your internal stop tap
- An unexplained change on your bill.
Paul Damon, director of supply networks and leakage at Wessex Water, said: “If your property is metered and the meter dial is turning when you’re not using any water, you should carry out some checks to make sure you don’t have a leak.
“Every year we hear of plumbing emergencies where pipes in homes have burst and people have been unable to find their stop tap to isolate their supply. So it makes sense to get prepared now.”
Wessex Water advises customers to turn off their internal stop tap, normally under the kitchen sink. Turn it clockwise before checking to see if it has shut off the cold water supply.
Next, check the meter. If the dial has stopped turning you may have a leak inside your property and you should contact a plumber.
However, if the meter is still turning when the stop tap is off it is likely that you have a leak on your private supply pipe, and you should contact Wessex Water.
Below is a checklist of eight jobs for the home and garden to help ensure you don’t get caught cold.
- Locate your stop tap: You should locate and test your stop tap before temperatures drop so that you know how to turn off your water supply in case a burst occurs.
- Lag your pipes: Prevent uncovered pipes in cold areas of your home from freezing by applying lagging. If your pipes do freeze, thaw them using some warm towels and a hot water bottle.
- Bleed your radiators: Use a key to release any trapped air in your radiators and keep a cloth nearby to catch any water that drips from the valve. Please be aware this can cause your boiler pressure to temporarily drop.
- Draught proof your doors and windows by applying weatherstripping and using door sweeps to prevent cold air from sneaking in.
- Cover outdoor taps: A frozen outdoor tap can be easily avoided by using an outdoor tap cover – you can pick these up from most DIY and hardware shops.
- Service your boiler and central heating regularly and keep the name and number of a qualified WaterSafe plumber handy in case of emergencies.
- Clear gutters and drains – Gutters play an important role in carrying water away from your home – remove leaves and debris from your gutters to prevent water damage.
- Keep the heating on low if you’re going away or your home is likely to be unoccupied for long periods to prevent pipes from freezing.
For more cold weather advice, and tutorial videos on how to locate your stop tap and apply lagging, visit www.wessexwater.co.uk/winter.