• Water Services- Advice for Property Owners during Cold Spells


    General Advice for Property Owners during Cold Spell

     

    1. Conserve water as much as possible to reduce the likelihood of supply interruptions.
    2. Ensure that you know the location of your internal stop tap for turning off the water supply. This is generally under the kitchen sink. Older properties may not have an internal stop tap and in this case the water will need to be turned off at the external stop tap. This will be located adjacent to the property boundary, generally on the footpath or verge. The property owner should ensure in this case that they are familiar with it’s location and how to turn it off, and that it is easily accessible. Owners should consider the installation of an internal stop tap if none exists.
    3. Try to maintain heat in the internal pipe network. This can be done by; a) Leaving on heating system for longer periods, b) Opening attic trap door to allow warm air from the house to circulate around the attic pipework, c) Leaving on a light in the attic to generate heat
    4. If property is to be left unattended for any significant period of time shut off water supply at stop tap.

    Advice to Property Owners with Frozen Service Pipe – i.e. No water in Cold tap in kitchen

     

    1. Use water from attic tank as sparingly as possible until normal service returns
    2. Switch off central heating system and seek advice from plumber familiar with property before continuing to use

    Advice to Property Owners with Frozen Internal Pipe – i.e. Water in Cold tap in kitchen but no water in other tap or cistern in house

     

    1. Switch off water supply to property at stop tap
    2. Contact plumber to check out system
    3. Check attic and ceilings for signs of leak - If leak detected drain attic tank by running bath taps
    4. Switch off central heating system and seek advice from plumber familiar with property before continuing to use

     

    Advice to Property Owners who discover a Leak

     

    1. Immediately switch off water supply to property at stop tap
    2. Drain system by running taps
    3. Contact plumber
    4. Switch off central heating system and run down any other solid fuel heating source