Cold weather can cause water inside your pipework to freeze, expand, and place pressure on the pipe walls. When temperatures rise again, these pipes can split or burst, leading to sudden leaks, flooding and significant home damage.
Homes in Weston-super-Mare, Worle, Clevedon, Portishead and the wider North Somerset region are particularly at risk during sudden overnight temperature drops and cold spells.
The good news is that frozen and burst pipes are preventable with a few simple steps.
1. Keep Your Heating On Low
You don’t need the heating on full — just maintain a steady temperature.
Set your thermostat to around 15–17°C when away from home.
This helps keep water flowing steadily through the system.
2. Insulate Exposed Pipework
Pipes are most at risk in:
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Lofts
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Basements
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Garages
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Outbuildings
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Under kitchen cupboards
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Behind external walls
Adding pipe insulation (lagging) helps keep water from freezing.
It’s inexpensive and makes a big difference.
3. Leave Loft Hatch Slightly Open During Extreme Cold
Allowing warm air from the home to enter the loft helps prevent pipe freezing around tanks and cylinder feeds.
A small gap is enough — not fully open.
4. Run Your Heating System Regularly
Even in mild weather, run your heating system for 15 minutes a day.
This:
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Keeps water moving
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Reduces freeze risk
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Helps prevent valve sticking
Great for second homes and rental properties too.
5. Open Cabinet Doors Under Sinks
If pipes run behind kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities, warm air cannot reach them.
Leaving doors slightly open during very cold nights helps protect those pipes.
6. Know Where Your Stop Tap Is
If a pipe does burst:
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Turn off your stop tap immediately to stop the water flow.
If you’re unsure where it is — we can locate and label it clearly for you.
7. Fit Frost Protection Controls (Optional Upgrade)
We can install:
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Frost stats
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Pipe thermostats
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Smart heating timers
These automatically activate heating only when needed — energy efficient and protective.
Signs a Pipe May Be Frozen
Look for:
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No flow from taps
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Gurgling sounds
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Very cold or frosty pipe surfaces
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Boiler struggling to maintain pressure
If caught early, frozen pipes can often be defrosted before they burst.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Pipe
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Turn off the water supply at the stop tap
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Warm the pipe gently using:
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Warm towels
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A hairdryer (on low)
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Natural room heat
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Never use:
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Naked flames
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Blowtorches
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Direct boiling water
(doing so can cause the pipe to crack).
If in doubt — call for assistance.
Areas We Cover
Winter plumbing protection, emergency repairs & preventative servicing across:
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Weston-super-Mare
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Worle
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Clevedon
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Portishead
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Nailsea, Congresbury & Yatton
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Banwell, Winscombe & Cheddar
Friendly, reliable and always respectful of your home.
Need Help Protecting Your Plumbing This Winter?
We offer winter pipe protection, leak prevention & fast emergency response.
📞 Phone: 07453 304504
📧 Email: matt@teddytailsplumbing.co.uk
📍 Serving: Weston-super-Mare, Worle, Clevedon, Portishead & all North Somerset areas
Prevention now is far cheaper than repair later.