What should I do if a water pipe freezes?

Turn off the water at the stop tap, open the affected tap and thaw the pipe slowly with gentle warmth. WaterSafe says to use warm towels, a hot-water bottle wrapped in cloth or a hairdryer on a low or medium setting, and never a naked flame or blowtorch.

A frozen pipe may show frost, very slow or no flow, or be in an exposed loft, garage, cellar or outside wall. Keep away from damaged electrics. If water has reached electrical equipment, switch off the electricity at the mains only if it is safe to reach and call the appropriate professional.

As the pipe thaws, check it carefully for leakage. Freezing can damage the pipe or joints even when the split was not visible while ice blocked the opening. If water appears, leave the supply off and call a plumber. Tape or cloth is not a permanent repair.

Prevention is safer than recovery: insulate exposed water pipes, repair drips, know where the stop tap is and follow WaterSafe's winter advice when leaving a property empty. For any fault involving a gas boiler, use the maker's user instructions and a Gas Safe registered engineer; do not remove its casing or work on its valves.

Do not assume that restored flow means the pipe is sound. Watch the thawed section and nearby joints as the supply is cautiously restored, and keep the stop tap within reach. A damp patch, bulge or spray means the water should go off again. Photograph any damage before clearing it if an insurance claim may follow. When the immediate problem is safe, ask a plumber whether the pipe route can be insulated, moved away from a cold draught or otherwise protected before the next freeze.

Sources

• What should I do if a pipe freezes? — WaterSafe, accessed 14 November 2026.
• How do I protect against frozen pipes? — WaterSafe, accessed 14 November 2026.

On Leatmere

Read frozen pipes and pipe lagging.