Frozen pipes advice as experts list five steps to take if you have a burst pipe

Make sure you can spot the warning signs of a frozen pipe so you can act before it bursts
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With this month's weather proving particularly icy as temperatures struggle to get above freezing, it's worth knowing what to do in the event that your pipes freeze.

The water in your pipes can freeze when temperatures plunge, and because water expands as it freezes, this can sometimes lead to your pipe bursting as it splits under the pressure. This is why it's important to be aware of the warning signs that you may have a frozen or burst pipe, so you can act quickly to limit the damage that this could cause to your home.

According to experts at British Gas, signs that you might have a frozen pipe include your central heating making gurgling sounds, your boiler failing to switch on, or water coming out of your taps in a trickle or not at all. You may also find that your sink is clogged, and that your toilet is flushing slowly.

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You will need to find the frozen pipe in question - British Gas advises that for households with a modern condensing boiler, it will "most likely" be your condensate pipe, which is the plastic one that comes out of your boiler. Any outdoor pipes, as well as ones that pass through cold spots in the house such as lofts, basements and cupboards on external walls, are also at risk.

Once you have located the frozen pipe, you will need to thaw it out, which you can do by slowly pouring hot - but never boiling - water over it, or it may be easier to use hot water bottles or towels soaked in hot water for vertical pipes. But sometimes, you may not notice that you have a frozen pipe until it's too late and it has already burst.

British Gas warns: "A burst pipe might not be as obvious as a kitchen full of water. You may have a slow leak which, left to its own devices, can cause just as much damage to your home and electrics."

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Signs of a burst pipe can include problems with your water pressure or trouble with your water flow. You may also spot water marks, patches or bulging on your walls or ceilings, or damp patches on the floor.

Here's a step-by-step guide from experts at the Met Office on what to do next:

  1. Turn off the water supply coming into your property at the stop tap and switch off your boiler.

  2. Open all your taps to drain the system as quickly as possible, saving some water in a bucket for flushing toilets and hand washing. When the water stops running, turn all the taps off.

  3. Soak up escaping water with towels to limit the damage.

  4. Call a WaterSafe approved plumber, who is qualified to work on the plumbing system in your home.

  5. If water has leaked near your electrics, do not touch them and switch them off at the fuse box.

To help avoid your pipes freezing and bursting, the Met Office advises making sure that all pipes in areas vulnerable to the cold are insulated and that your boiler is serviced. It's also recommended that you stay prepared in case of an emergency by having the name and telephone number of your nearest WaterSafe qualified plumber to hand, and making sure you know where your stop tap is.