Frozen Pipes in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland winters can catch you off guard. One cold snap and your pipes can freeze solid, especially in older houses where pipework runs through unheated lofts, garages, or along outside walls. I get more calls about frozen and burst pipes between December and February than any other time of year.

Here is what you should do if it happens to you, and how to stop it from happening in the first place.

Signs Your Pipes Might Be Frozen

You might not always know straight away that a pipe has frozen. Watch out for these signs:

• No water coming out of the taps, or only a trickle
• Frost visible on exposed pipes (under sinks, in the garage, or in the loft)
• A bulge or crack visible on a pipe
• Strange smells coming from drains or taps
• Gurgling sounds when you turn on a tap

What to Do Straight Away

If you think your pipes are frozen, act quickly to limit the damage:

1. Turn off the water. Find your main stopcock and turn it off. In most Northern Ireland homes, the stopcock is under the kitchen sink or in the hallway. If you do not know where yours is, find out now before you need it.
2. Turn on the taps. Open the affected taps slightly. This relieves pressure and lets water flow once the pipe starts to thaw.
3. Check for leaks. If you see water coming from anywhere it should not be, you probably have a burst pipe. Keep the water turned off and call a plumber.
4. Mop up any water. If a pipe has already burst, get towels down and start collecting the water to prevent further damage.

Thawing Pipes Safely

If you can see the frozen section and the pipe is not cracked, you can try to thaw it yourself:

• Hairdryer. Hold a hairdryer on a low heat setting close to the frozen section. Move it slowly back and forth. Do not hold it in one spot.
• Hot water bottles or warm cloths. Wrap a hot water bottle or a towel soaked in warm water around the pipe.
• Portable heater. Place a fan heater near the frozen area (not touching the pipe) and let it warm the space gradually.

Never use a blowtorch, open flame, or boiling water directly on a pipe. This can crack the pipe or start a fire.

When to Call a Plumber

Call a plumber straight away if:

• You can see a crack or split in the pipe
• Water is leaking from a pipe, wall, or ceiling
• You cannot locate the frozen section
• The pipe will not thaw after gentle warming for 30 minutes
• Multiple taps or appliances have no water

I cover Ballymoney, Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush, Bushmills, and Ballycastle, and I do my best to get to frozen or burst pipe call-outs on the same day. Call me on 07798 670751.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Prevention is always better than dealing with a burst pipe in the middle of the night. Here is what I recommend:

• Lag your pipes. Foam pipe insulation is cheap and easy to fit. Prioritise pipes in the loft, garage, and along outside walls.
• Keep the heating on low. Even if you are away, set the thermostat to at least 12 to 15 degrees. This keeps the house warm enough to prevent freezing.
• Fix dripping taps. A slow drip in cold weather can freeze at the tap or in the pipe below, causing a blockage.
• Open loft hatches on cold nights. This lets some warm air from the house circulate up to the loft pipework.
• Know where your stopcock is. If a pipe does burst, you need to turn off the water fast. Find it now and make sure it turns easily.

Frequently Asked Questions