Preparing for winter

Advice for businesses

Prolonged cold weather can cause frozen or burst pipes resulting in no water. To avoid the unnecessary expense, disruption and damage this can cause following our handy tips to protect your property.

Here at Yorkshire Water, we want to help you avoid the expense, disruption and damage this can cause by providing you with all the advice you need to protect your pipes from freezing and what to do if the weather does get really cold.

Before the cold weather arrives
Make sure you follow our tips below before the cold weather strikes to ensure you stay one step ahead:
• Protect all exposed pipework, cisterns, tanks, taps and water meters in unheated areas with waterproof foam lagging or insulation.
• Find and label all your stop taps and valves and regularly check they're working.
• Keep boilers regularly serviced.
• Read your meter regularly, as a higher than normal meter reading can be the first indication that there may be a leak on the pipe.
Leaving your school or premises empty
• Leave the heating on a low or constant setting.
• If you don't want the heating on, drain all pipework where possible, turn off your stop tap and, if you have a cold water tank, turn off the stopcock.
• Repair dripping taps and faulty washers.
• If possible, arrange for someone to check on the premises regularly.
During a cold snap
• Check exposed pipework for any signs of leaks.
• Run taps and flush toilets to make sure that water in the pipes hasn't frozen.
• If your pipes freeze, turn off your stop tap and feel the pipe around it (or any other you think might be frozen).
• Try defrosting the pipe with a fan heater or hairdryer. Never use a naked flame.
• Turn off your stop tap and the stopcock in the cold water tank.
• Turn off your electrics if water is leaking near electrical appliances.