‘The Beast From The East’ - How To Prevent Damage In Your Home

How to prevent freezing pipes and expensive damage to your home.

With the most significant cold spell coming to Ireland since 2010, the 'Best From The East' will be no laughing matter. Sure, there will be lots of pretty white landscapes, snowmen and fun snowball fights, but many poorly prepared homes will be adversely affected with the potential for expensive damage from frozen and burst pipes a real threat. 

The good news? Frozen pipes are entirely preventable. Here's how:

(P.s if you do need a plumber - connect to thousands of qualified plumbers here)

What are the dangers of freezing pipes?

When water freezes, it expands. Unfortunately, the pipes used for plumbing in your home are often not flexible. For this reason, a freeze can often cause them to burst, with water escaping into your home. The ensuing damage can be extensive, with many homeowners having to pay thousands of euros to clean up after such an event.

Any home with poor insulation is at risk and any spaces within a home where pipes are exposed to cold air are vulnerable – think exterior walls, attic or roof spaces and cracked wall coverings. If in doubt, you should do a quick survey of your home by following the steps below. 

How do you identify freezing pipes?

Unfortunately, a frozen pipe does not leak, so there is often no tell-tale sign other than a disrupted water supply– with little or no water coming from your taps. A quick check of your piping may also reveal a frost on the exterior of the pipe in question. 

What should you do if your pipes freeze?

•    If you suspect your pipes have frozen based on the above, you need to turn off the water supply to your home immediately. You can do this by locating the main stop cock (stop valve) in your house, normally located under the kitchen sink. 
•    Where possible you should also turn off the water supply from your water tank – this is normally located in your attic. Turn off the stop valve on its outlet pipe. 
•    Finally, turn off all your water heating systems and then turn on your taps to drain the system - this will enable you to minimise any potential water damage from a burst pipe  
•    At this point you should request a plumber to call out and check your plumbing system for further damage.

Connect with a qualified plumber for free and arrange a call-out.

What to do if your pipes burst?

•    Turn off the water supply to your house and water tank as above. 
•    Where electrics are exposed to water, turn off your electricity supply at the mains. 
•    If your house is insured, contact your insurance company at this point. 
•    Get a plumber out as soon as possible. 
•    Collect any water in buckets to limit the damage
•    Puncture the plaster in any bulging ceilings to relieve the pressure and limit damage 

How to prevent frozen pipes?

•    Insulate all exposed water pipes (both internal and external) with foam-based or specialist pipe insulation. Exposed pipes include those in attics, external wall cavities and near damaged walls.
•    Ensure that the heating comes on for a time in unoccupied homes during cold weather spells.
•    Inspect all accessible pipework regularly 

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