How to Prevent Frozen Pipes?

Frozen pipes are one of winter’s most disruptive problems, but they’re also one of the most preventable. A burst pipe can cause thousands of pounds of water damage to your home and belongings, and the disruption can last for weeks. A few simple steps taken before the cold sets in can save you all of that. Here’s what to do.

Why do pipes freeze?

When temperatures drop below zero, the water inside pipes can freeze. As it turns to ice, it expands, putting intense pressure on the pipe walls. If the pipe can’t accommodate that pressure, it cracks or bursts. When the ice thaws, the water flows out through the crack, often causing significant damage to walls, ceilings, floors, and belongings.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), escape of water is one of the most expensive types of home insurance claim, costing UK insurers over £1.8 million every day. The average individual claim runs to several thousand pounds, making prevention genuinely worth the effort.

The pipes most at risk are those in unheated areas: lofts, garages, basements, external walls, and anywhere cold air can reach the pipework. Outdoor taps and condensate pipes from boilers are also particularly vulnerable.

How to prevent frozen pipes

Here’s how to keep your pipes safe this winter:

Insulate exposed pipes

Foam pipe lagging is one of the cheapest and most effective preventative measures available. It’s available at most DIY stores for just a few pounds per metre and is straightforward to install yourself. Focus on pipes in lofts, crawl spaces, garages, and any unheated outbuildings.

If you’re not sure how to locate or access the pipes in your home,here’s how to avoid damaging pipes when drilling walls to help you understand where pipework typically runs.

Protect outdoor taps

Outside taps are among the first to freeze. Before the cold arrives, turn off the water supply to outdoor taps at the isolation valve (usually inside the house), then open the tap to drain any remaining water. Fit an insulated outdoor tap cover as an additional precaution.

Keep heating on a minimum setting

Set your heating to maintain at least 12°C, even when you’re not at home or when you’re away for extended periods. This is enough to prevent the temperature dropping to the point where pipes freeze. Turning the heating off entirely to save money can result in a burst pipe that costs far more than the energy saving.

Know where your stopcock is

Your stopcock, also called the stop tap, controls the mains water supply to your home. Knowing where it is and being able to turn it off quickly is one of the most important things you can do in a water emergency. It’s typically found under the kitchen sink, in a utility cupboard, or where the mains enters the property.

Check your boiler’s condensate pipe

If your boiler stops working during a cold snap, a frozen condensate pipe is often the cause. This pipe runs from the boiler to an external drain and is particularly vulnerable to freezing. Thaw it gently with warm (not boiling) water and restart the boiler.

What to do if a pipe freezes

If you notice reduced water pressure, no water at all, or visible frost on a pipe, act quickly:

1. Turn off the stopcock to reduce the risk of a burst causing significant water damage.
2. Open the taps nearest to the frozen pipe to release pressure and allow the water somewhere to go as the ice thaws.
3. Thaw the pipe gently. Use a hairdryer on a low setting, warm towels, or a hot water bottle. Work from the tap end towards the frozen section. Never use a naked flame or boiling water directly on the pipe.
4. Call a plumber if you can’t locate the frozen section or if you’re unsure.

For example:

A homeowner notices no water coming from the kitchen tap on a cold January morning. She turns off the stopcock immediately, opens the tap to relieve pressure, and uses a hairdryer to gently warm the pipe under the sink. The blockage clears within 20 minutes and no burst occurs. Acting quickly made all the difference.

What happens if a frozen pipe bursts?

A burst pipe needs immediate action to limit the damage:

• Shut off the stopcock to stop more water entering the system.
• Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit if water is near any electrics.
• Soak up water with towels and move belongings away from the affected area.
• Call a plumber for emergency repairs.
• Document the damage with photos before cleaning up, ready for an insurance claim.
• Contact your insurer as soon as possible. With Lemonade’s home insurance, you can start a claim directly through the app.

Home insurance and frozen pipes

Most standard home insurance policies cover escape of water, including damage caused by burst pipes. However, some policies include conditions around winter prevention. For example, if you leave your property unheated for an extended period and a pipe bursts as a result, your insurer may argue the damage was preventable and reduce or refuse your claim.

Check your policy wording carefully, particularly around:

• Minimum heating requirements for unoccupied properties
• Whether you need to drain the system when away for more than a certain number of days
• What’s covered under escape of water vs. gradual leaks or poor maintenance

If you’re leaving the property empty for a significant period, unoccupied house insurance may be worth considering for additional cover.

For renters, if a burst pipe causes damage to your belongings, that’s covered by contents insurance, not the landlord’s buildings insurance. Make sure you have cover in place before winter.

Before we go

Preventing frozen pipes takes very little time and costs very little money. Insulate exposed pipes, keep the heating on a low setting, protect outdoor taps, and know where your stopcock is. If something does go wrong, act immediately and check your insurance covers you.

Lemonade’s home insurance covers escape of water as standard, and claims can be started directly through the app at any time.

Frozen pipes prevention FAQs