DIY & Repairs guide

Stop pipes freezing and thaw them safely

Protect exposed pipes, outside taps and boiler condensate pipes from frost, and know how to thaw a frozen pipe without causing a burst.

Estimated time: 1–2 hoursUpdated: 28 September 2026

Use this guide before the first hard frost and again if a tap stops running in freezing weather. Have pipe lagging, an outdoor tap cover, cable ties or tape, a torch and know where your internal stop tap is.

Step by step

  1. Find your stop tap and test it

    Locate the internal stop tap, usually under the kitchen sink or where the water pipe enters the house. Turn it off and on again to make sure it moves; a stiff one is far better discovered now than during a burst. Label it so everyone in the home can find it.

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