News

Winter has arrived, and we know what kind of havoc this weather can have on water pipes.  To help our customers, we're giving away free pipe lagging in areas of the region that are hotspots for leaky pipes.

We'll be bringing in extra resources so that we can cope with any increase in work. We'll also be making sure we have the right vehicles, such as 4x4s, so that work to repair leaks and bursts can continue if we see lots of snow over the coming months.

But it’s also important for customers to understand how they can look after their own pipework, as Tom Jones, who has 14 years’ experience repairing leaks across Warwickshire, explains:

“Now is the best time to start getting your home ready for winter and it’s such an easy and inexpensive job.  Many of our customers may not realise that Severn Trent is only responsible for the water pipes in the public highway.  Anything inside the property boundary is the responsibility of the homeowner.  We want our customers to avoid what could be a lot of heartache and expense if their home is affected by burst pipes.  So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, we’re providing free pipe lagging for people in the areas that have been hardest hit in the past by pipes in their home bursting.

“Colder weather can wreak havoc on household water pipes.  When water freezes, it expands, putting more pressure on pipes and joints, often causing pipes to split or joints to pull apart. Taking steps now to make sure the pipework within your property is protected can help avoid problems with frozen pipes once the temperatures drop.  I have a few top tips to help our customers make sure they’re well prepared for the cold weather ahead.”

Tom’s top tips for protecting your household pipes against the frost:

•     Wrap all pipework, fittings and storage tanks in unheated areas of your home (such as lofts, roofs, outbuildings and garages) with insulation.  It’s best to use good quality waterproof foam lagging which can be found at your local DIY store, or at the moment, for free on our website at stwater.co.uk/savewater.  If you have outside taps, either insulate them or drain them down to the pipework that links to the tap.
•     If you’re concerned about your own DIY abilities, a registered plumber can check your household pipes to make sure they’re properly lagged and fill in any gaps.  Severn Trent supports watersafe.org.uk – a dedicated online search facility for qualified and approved plumbers, so you can get plumbing help from someone you can trust.”

If you do have a problem with your water supply this winter, with either low pressure or no water coming out of your taps, first check to see if your neighbours are having similar trouble. This will help establish if the issue is on Severn Trent’s network or on your own supply pipe. If your neighbours’ water supply is normal it’s likely that you’ll need to call a plumber. If more than one household is affected you’ll need to ring our 24 hour emergency number to report the problem - 0800 783 4444.

If you have more questions, or are concerned that you may have a frozen pipe, you can find more information by visiting stwater.co.uk/winter.