Pipe Problems

a stopcock
a stopcock
a gate valve
a gate valve

To be on the safe side, make sure you know where to find you’re:

  • stopcock (it’s usually where the water pipe enters the house or near the kitchen sink)
  • gate valves for your hot and cold water tanks

Got A Leaking Pipe?

Place a bowl under the leak. Pull back any carpets and soak up the water with towels or sheets of newspaper.

Got A Burst Pipe?

First, turn the water off at the stopcock, as well as any gate valves from the water tank, and switch off any water heaters. Next, turn on all taps to drain the rest of the water. Some pipes will have their own isolation valve (a gate valve or a service valve). If not, you may be able to isolate the burst by turning off the gate valve on the pipe from the cold water tank.

If electric fittings are wet don’t touch them and turn off the electricity at the meter.

If any ceilings start to bulge, pierce a small hole to release the water. Remember to put a bucket beneath to catch it!

If Your Pipes Have Frozen…

Turn off the water at the main stopcock and switch on the cold taps to help melt the ice faster. It’s best to leave the pipes frozen, but you can try to defrost the pipe using hot water bottles or a hair dryer. Do NOT use a blow torch or open flame – this can cause the pipe to burst, melt or worse. Take care to defrost from one end of the frozen section and not from the middle.

If you go away for a few days in winter, turn down the central heating but leave it on to avoid the risk of frozen pipes.

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