Wessex Water is urging people in Bath to take extra measures to protect their home from freezing over following the recent cold spell, after a survey revealed only half of people in the South West have insulated their water pipes.
The nationwide survey, carried out by WaterSafe, also shows that a considerable 32% of people in the region didn’t even know if their pipes were insulated, nor did they know how to check for this.
Yet 89% of people say they are fully aware that their internal pipework can freeze during winter which can cause them to burst.
Wessex Water’s general manager for supply operations, Nigel Martin, said: “Every year we hear from many customers who have experienced damage to their home because of pipes that have frozen and burst. Not only is this unpleasant to experience but it can also be very costly to fix.
“Now that temperatures have dropped in recent days, we are urging people to wrap up their exposed pipes and water tanks with lagging, an insulating material that can be found in most DIY stores.”
The water company advised that other ways people can protect their home during icy temperatures are to fix any dripping taps, turning off their internal stop tap when they go away, check their boiler has been recently serviced and leaving the heating on low when they are not home.
Director of WaterSafe, Julie Spinks, said: “If the worst happens and you do have a burst pipe, 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.”
For people who are unsure if their home is at risk or if their pipes have burst, they need to call a WaterSafe approved plumber.
Local ones can be found on their website: www.watersafe.org.uk
