What to do if…
you suspect your pipes are starting to freeze and the taps are slowing or sputtering

What to do now

1. Turn off the inside stop tap if you can do this safely.
   It is often under the kitchen sink, but it may be in a cupboard, under the stairs, in a downstairs toilet, garage, cellar, hallway, loft, or near where the water pipe enters the home. Turn it clockwise until it stops.

2. Open the affected cold tap slightly and leave it open.
   This gives melting water somewhere to go and may help relieve pressure as the ice thaws.

3. Check for signs that the pipe has already split.
   Look under sinks, around toilets, in the loft or garage, and along any visible pipe runs. If you see active leaking, keep the stop tap off and focus on containing water safely.

4. Protect the area before warming the pipe.
   Move small items away from the pipe. Put towels, bowls, or a tray under the visible pipe run if you can do this without standing in water or reaching near electrics.

5. Warm the suspected frozen section slowly.
   If you can identify the frozen section, start near the open tap end and warm along the pipe slowly. Use warm towels, a hot water bottle, heat packs, or a hairdryer on a gentle setting. Keep the hairdryer moving, keep it away from water, and stop if you see leaking.

6. Warm the space around the pipe.
   Open cupboard doors under sinks so room heat can reach the pipework. Keep the home gently warm, especially around pipes in cold cupboards, lofts, garages, outside walls, or draughty spaces.

7. When water starts flowing, check before restoring full supply.
   Keep the tap open. Check visible pipework, joints, floors, ceilings below, and nearby walls for damp, dripping, cracks, or bulges. If anything is leaking, keep the stop tap off and contact a plumber, landlord, housing repairs service, or building manager.

8. Turn the stop tap back on slowly only if you cannot see a leak.
   Turn it a little at a time and watch the pipework for a short while. If water appears, turn it off again.

9. If water is near electrics, stay back.
   Do not touch wet sockets, switches, plugs, appliances, fuse boxes, or wiring. If you can safely switch power off without touching wet equipment or standing in water, do so; otherwise get urgent professional help.

10. If you rent or live in managed housing, report it as urgent.
    Use your landlord, agent, housing association, council repairs, or building manager route. Say: “Suspected frozen pipe; taps are slowing or sputtering; stop tap has been turned off if safe; a cold tap is open; please treat as urgent because of burst-pipe risk.”

11. Get help if the pipe will not thaw or you are not confident.
    Contact a plumber or your home emergency cover provider. WaterSafe can help you find an approved plumber.