Affinity Water urging households to protect their homes this winter
The water company has advice on how to avoid leaks during colder weather
Affinity Water is urging householders to take precautions to protect their homes this winter as cold weather increases the risk of burst pipes and leaks.
The freezing temperatures can cause water inside pipes to freeze and expand, putting pressure on the pipework and potentially leading to cracking or bursting.
Therefore, Affinity Water says it sees an increase in callouts and support requests during winter due to damaged pipes.
The company are advising people to pay close attention to exposed outside taps or pipes, which are most vulnerable in freezing conditions, and using lagging or protective materials to shield them.
The high costs of burst pipes
Householders could face significant expenses if pipes burst, as the average cost of repairs is around £330 in the UK.
Tom Stoten, Head of demand management at Affinity Water said: "It can become costly if pipes burst because water is going to escape quickly, causing damage to your home, and you'll need a plumber to fix it and restore everything to how it was.”
In addition to potential damage repair costs, plumber call-out fees and materials may create further expenses, highlighting the importance of preventing issues before they occur.
Preventing freezes and leaks
Mr Stoten says prevention is key: “Things that I would look out for is outside taps or any exposed pipe work are most likely to freeze because they're exposed to the elements. So, I would lag or protect them in the winter.
Other measures can include keeping your home warm.
He added: “Despite the rising costs of energy, even if you have your heating on a really low setting just to keep the house at an ambulant temperature, that that would really help prevent your pipe from freezing and then becoming at risk of bursting or leaks occurring.”