Wrap Up Warm – Winter is here!

With winter fast approaching and temperatures dropping, now’s the time to wrap up and prepare for the worst.  After the extreme temperatures the UK suffered last winter – and the length of time the cold snap lasted – many households were caught out by the ferocity of the subzero figures.  We all take our water supply for granted and can’t live without it, from washing and cooking, to drinking and flushing.  Wrexham-based Dee Valley Water is here to help in the preparations for the winter months, with a few good ideas for its local customers before the cold weather sets in.

The government launched its ‘Get Ready for Winter’ campaign on 27 October 2011, and Norman Holladay, managing director at Dee Valley Water explains why this advice is so important:  “If your home or business suffers frozen or burst pipes, it could leave you footing a hefty repair bill – and what’s more, without a water supply. Last winter, temperatures plummeted so low that we were fully stretched, helping out many hundreds of customers in North East Wales and Chester, whose own pipes had frozen and burst.

Norman continued:  “At this time of year, exposed pipework is in danger of freezing when the cold weather strikes.  It is best to check the pipework where you can and make sure your pipework is well insulated, before it is cold enough to freeze.  Sometimes the immediate effects of a leak may not be apparent straight away and it will only be realised when a customer supplied through a meter receives a high bill.”

Dee Valley Water advises the local community that the best way to protect both your pipes and your bank balance is to implement some useful ‘top tips’, as prevention is better than cure.

To avoid pipes becoming frozen, lag them, and pay particular attention to insulating water tanks and pipes in non-heated spaces, such as draughty lofts or garages.  Block off and minimise draughts to exposed and unheated parts of the property, to retain as much heat as possible.   It’s also important to find and fix any dripping taps.  Locate your stopcock tap and ensure that you can turn it off easily if it becomes necessary.  Most stopcocks are located under the kitchen sink, or in the garage, and are closed by turning clockwise. Check your boiler has been serviced regularly and leave the heating on low if you are going to be away and ask a friend or neighbour to look in on your property in your absence.  If your property is vacant for a long period over winter, it might be worth considering turning off the water supply altogether at the stopcock and draining down the system, so there is no water in the pipes to freeze.  And if the worst happens and your water supply becomes disrupted or stopped, keep a separate supply of bottled drinking water, just in case.

All this preparation is excellent, but remember, if a pipe freezes:

• Turn off the water supply at the stopcock
• Check to see if the pipe has actually burst
• Slowly thaw the pipe out, using a warm towel or hot water bottle, starting at the end nearest the tap
• Never use a naked flame, hairdryer or blowtorch to thaw the pipe
• Don’t leave taps dripping or running, as the water may not drain down the plughole if the pipe below is frozen too.

If a pipe bursts, here’s what to do:

• Turn off the stopcock and boiler
• Open all your taps to drain down the system immediately
• Soak up or block off leaking water with thick towels
• Call a qualified plumber (local water industry recommended plumbers can be found at www.wras.co.uk/WIAPS)
• Turn off taps once pipework has been repaired, to avoid wasting water and further flooding

If you want to see what the weather in Wrexham is up to, you can have a look at the information from our very own Weather Centre here.

For further information on making the necessary preparations for the winter period, visit Dee Valley Water’s website at www.deevalleywater.co.uk and follow the link ‘Don’t be left out in the cold’, where you can download their ‘Wrap Up for Winter’ leaflet, which is also available if you ring on 01978 846946.

More information in preparing for winter is also available at www.directgov.org.uk