When the winter approaches, preparing the house becomes increasingly important. The expense of frozen or burst pipes can be easily avoided with a few simple precautions:

• Make sure you know where the water mains valve and header tank are and that you can turn them on and off.
• Repair any dripping taps.
• Check that any pipes or tanks in lofts and any unheated areas are properly insulated.
• Keep central heating on at a low temperature if you are going to be away from home overnight or for a few days.
• If you think your pipes are frozen, turn off the water at the mains valve and the header tank to cut down the amount of water that could escape if a pipe bursts.
• Thaw a frozen pipe gently, with a low steady heat such as a hot water bottle or hair-dryer and not a naked flame. Have something ready to catch water in case the pipe bursts.
• Keep the telephone number of a plumber readily available in case of emergencies.
• Check your buildings and contents insurance covers not just the pipes, but also any damage to furniture or flooring caused by burst water pipes.

If a frozen pipe does burst, take the following action:

• Switch off the central heating to reduce water flow.
• Open all taps to drain the system.
• Collect all water in containers.
• Turn electricity off at the mains if sockets or appliances have been affected.