/>

Preparing for winter

Advice for businesses

It’s been a difficult year for businesses so it’s more important than ever to take a little bit of time to make sure your business is ready for the winter. It could save you the unnecessary expense, disruption and damage of a burst or leaking pipe and loss of supply caused by prolonged cold weather.

Here’s how you can protect your business and what to do if the weather does get really cold.

  1. Follow our tips below to make sure you’re one step ahead of the cold weather:

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Arrange for someone to check on the premises regularly, where possible.
    • 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.

  4. Spread the word and protect your business with our free downloadable posters.

    How to protect your pipes this winter

    What to do if there's disruption to your water supply