Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News

Reduce the risk of burst pipes

Date published: 29 November 2021

With the weather colder, it's important to prepare for freezing conditions. Damage as a result of burst pipes is a possibility over the next few months. However, with some simple precautions the risk can be reduced.

Protecting from frost

The devastation caused by burst pipes cannot be underestimated. Potential repairs alone can run into many thousands of pounds.

Not only can the water cause structural damage to a property, but also to electrical equipment and personal items, including photographs that may not be replaceable.

Taking the following simple steps will significantly reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes:

  • insulate water tanks and pipes in unheated areas like lofts, garages and outbuildings
  • fix dripping taps – a gentle trickle of water can freeze and completely block the pipe
  • find your internal stop tap/ valve - it is usually, but not always, under your kitchen sink and normally closes by turning clockwise
  • service the boiler regularly
  • make sure doors and windows from unheated parts of your house are kept closed and try and stop any draughts from outside
  • if you are away from home during the winter period, open the trap door into the roofspace to allow some of the warm air to circulate (this should be a temporary measure only, as it will cause condensation - tanks and pipes should be insulated)
  • if you are away from home leave the heating on low and you could leave a key with someone who can check the house regularly
  • write down the contact details of a registered plumber in case a pipe does burst

You can get more information at this link:

  • Steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes

If a property is not in use or occupied for a long period of time it is advisable to turn the water supply off at the stop tap. You should maybe even consider draining down the system.

There is more information on the NI Water website.

Dealing with frozen pipes

Most frozen pipes are found in the roofspace and below sink units. If you discover a frozen pipe, you should:

  • turn off the water supply at the stop tap/ valve
  • thaw along the pipe, starting from the end nearest the tap
  • don’t use a blow lamp or naked flame
  • put hot water bottles or a thick cloth soaked in hot water over the frozen pipe or use a hair dryer at its lowest setting to thaw pipes (be careful not to warm them too quickly)
  • don’t leave taps dripping or running - the water may not flush down the plug hole if the pipes below are frozen

Burst pipes

If a pipe bursts, you should:

  • turn off the stop tap/ valve
  • try to block escaping water with thick cloth (for example, towels)
  • turn on all taps to reduce flooding
  • call a qualified plumber
  • don’t forget to turn off taps once the problem is fixed to avoid further flooding

Reporting a problem

If you have checked the pipes on your property and they are not burst or frozen, and you still have no water supply, contact NI Water on 03457 440088.

If you are a Housing Executive tenant and need an emergency repair, you should contact your local District Office during office hours.

You can also contact the emergency out-of-hours service on:

  • phone: 03448 920 901

More useful links

  • Finding a plumber
  • Repairs to Housing Executive and housing association homes
  • Reporting flooding
  • Flooding
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Featured news

  • Think about walking for shorter journeys
  • Thunderstorms weather warning - advice and information
  • Raising awareness of need for foster carers
  • Talk to someone if worried about mental or emotional wellbeing
More news ...

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS