Scottish Water has warned about pipes becoming 'very vulnerable' during the current cold snap which has seen Scotland wake up to snow and subzero temperatures today.
The country could be plunged into blizzard conditions as four days of weather warnings across numerous parts of the country have been issued by the Met Office.
Winter weather could damage property and impact roads, and now Scottish Water has urged people to make sure that their pipes are prepared for the cold spell to avoid bursts and flooding.
The key advice about pipes is to heat, insulate and protect, according to the national water supplier - here is how you can do just that.
Heat
Modern central heating systems have frost protection built in, which will fire up the boiler if needed, even when your heating is turned off.
If you don’t have frost protection built into your boiler, then set the heating thermostat to 10C and the programmer to 'On' or 24hr.
The heating will only come on if the temperature inside your home drops below 10C, so it shouldn’t use a lot of energy and it could help prevent frozen pipes and expensive repairs.
Insulate
Pipes don’t like the cold – whether they are outdoor or indoor, metal or plastic, new or old. Making sure pipes and water tanks are properly insulated is one of the simplest and cheapest things which can be done to help protect properties from the cold.
Make sure that there are no gaps at bends, valves or fitting, and that you use a suitable insulation material. Insulate the condensation pipe.
Efficient condensing boilers produce a small amount of condensate which drains away through a plastic pipe, usually outside.
If that pipe gets blocked with a build-up of ice, the boiler will stop working. Insulate the plastic pipe with foam pipe insulation to keep it warmer and prevent the condensate water from freezing and blocking the pipe.
Protect
If you are going away, make sure you have someone who can check regularly for any problems.
Dripping water increases the risk of freezing, so have any drips or leaks at taps or valves repaired as soon as you discover them, and reduce draughts by fitting draught excluders to doors and windows.
If the property is going to be vacant over winter, turn off the water supply and drain the system.
Kevin Roy, Scottish Water’s customer service general manager, said: "Water pipes can be very vulnerable to swings in temperature and the freeze-thaw process.
"With a return to freezing overnight conditions and slightly warmer temperatures during the day, we are preparing for a potentially busy period.
"As we saw in December, burst pipes – especially those which the customer has responsibility for - can place additional strain on our supply systems as well as cause disruption.
"We would want all householders and businesses to prepare and be alert for any bursts which do occur.
"We are putting a range of resources in place to allow us to deal with issues which arise – but prevention in the first place is always a better option."
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