A burst pipe or significant escape of water on average costs between £8-12k to fix – and despite many of these incidents being preventable, it continues to be a common issue for commercial and residential properties.
Last year alone, Diamond Facilities Support attended just under 3,000 reactive callouts relating to escape of water.
Luke Yates, Associate Director at Diamond Facilities Support, has more than 10 years’ experience in the plumbing industry, and has shared a checklist that FMs should follow to ensure their pipes are free flowing all year round.
- A common cause of burst pipes is frozen water expanding pipes, resulting in cracking, with thawing leading to leaks – so there is a need to keep water temperature as stable as possible.
- Keep all doors closed to limit fluctuations in room temperature
- Leave your property heater or heating on if you are not in and cover any loft hatches
- Wrap exposed pipes with insulation, insulate outdoor taps, and insulate the water heater/tanks if it’s in a cold place
- Make sure all taps are turned off correctly
- Seal any areas where pipes are exposed to cold air, like underneath sinks or near dryer vents
- Make sure to check your buildings insurance to ensure that you have adequate cover for such events
- Prevention is better than cure, so make sure your premises are subject to regular inspections to identify signs of potential issues early on – sometimes burst pipes can originate from other underlying issues
If you suspect a frozen pipe then you must look to thaw it very gradually after turning off the stop cock, a plumber may use a heat gun in small bursts but property owners could use a hair dryer or even a hot water bottle. It is, however, advisable to consult a professional to avoid any further damage.
If you do suffer a burst pipe then it is essential you do the following:
- Make sure you know where your stopcock is and ensure it turns water off! Test the stopcock at regular intervals to prevent water pouring through your building with no ability to turn it off
- Call your emergency plumber immediately in order to identify the problem and get it fixed
- Speak to your insurer as there may be significant damage if you are unfortunate
Sometimes stopcocks can seize which makes them extremely difficult to operate, especially in an emergency! The Diamond Group have years of experience in fitting Surestop.
Surestop turns off water at a flick of a switch without the need of batteries or electrics. This can be a direct replacement for a brass stop cock.
Contact us today to find out more.