News / Press releases

01/12/2009

Stay safe and sound with Welsh Water

Don’t crack up, wrap up

Before the weather turns really cold and frosty, the message from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is ‘Don’t crack up, wrap up’.

The water company is offering some simple advice to customers to help avoid the inconvenience and expense that a frost damaged pipe can cause.

Sally Gronow, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s head of communications, said: “Burst pipes can cause millions of pounds worth of damage a year, and also needlessly waste water. However people can help prevent this by checking that all pipe work, cisterns and tanks in unheated areas are well insulated and that there is no gap in the insulation at bends, tees and valves. It is not necessary to insulate underneath your loft tank as the warm air from the rooms below will help to prevent the tank from freezing.”

Sally also advises keeping your heating on a constant low temperature during frosty weather to prevent pipes from freezing. And during lengthy periods of frost, outside pipe work and any exposed plumbing should be isolated and drained down, with draining taps left open, until the weather improves.

Customers wishing to obtain an information leaflet with further details on how to avoid frozen water pipes should contact Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water on 0800 052 0138. You can also log onto Welsh Water’s website at www.dwrcymru.com to download a copy of the leaflet, or listen to an audio recording of the leaflet content instead.

Welsh Water is investing heavily and working hard to ensure top quality services to all its communities in Wales. The company is investing £1.4 billion in our water and sewerage network between 2005 and 2010.

It is a not-for-profit company with the sole objective of providing top quality services for its customers. Welsh Water does not have shareholders, and any profits made are reinvested in the business for the benefit of customers, as well as for returning to customers as ‘dividends’. The customer dividend for 2009/10 is £22 for each customer receiving both water and wastewater services.

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

Unheated areas include lofts, roofs, under floor spaces, outbuildings and garages
Insulation material should conform to B.S.5422 and be installed in accordance with B.S.5970
If you are away from home for any length of time turn off the water supply and drain the system.

Freezing

Remember that although damage to pipes occurs when they freeze the burst will only become apparent during the thaw. If freezing has occurred you should isolate the affected area by closing the stopcock (always clockwise) on that supply.
Check where your stopcock is to make sure that it can be turned on and off. If it cannot be closed, you should close the external boundary stopcock. Open taps to sinks, basins, etc to drain the plumbing system when the thaw takes place. This should reduce any damage in your home caused by water escaping from a burst pipe.

Thawing out

Before you start to thaw out the system move anything that could be damaged by thawed water escaping from burst pipes.

Warning

After freezing has occurred there can be a risk of explosion if heat is applied suddenly. Don't switch on any water heating appliances, boilers, immersion heaters, etc until you are sure that the system has thawed out.
Do not try to thaw out pipes using a naked flame such as a blowlamp. Instead, use a hot water bottle or a hairdryer, but take care, there may be a burst pipe that could spray water as it thaws.

Caution! Water and electricity don't mix

Be careful of your wiring or electrical appliances as they may have been affected by the burst. If you are in any doubt, turn off your electricity at the mains and call in an electrician. If there is damage to your water pipes you may want to call a plumber.