Thames Water issues important advice over temperature change
A major water company has warned customers they may suffer burst pipes and flooding unless they protect themselves against the 'big thaw' this week.
With the freezing weather conditions forecast to finally thaw this week, Thames Water has urged customers to avoid leaks by preparing pipes to defrost slowly.
On Saturday the supplier apologised when nearly 100 properties were deluged with more than 1.6ft of water in Belsize Road, Camden in the early hours of the morning.
Around 60 firefighters led 25 people to safety and a hub was set up at Swiss Cottage Library.
Multiple postcodes were left without water when two mains burst, causing flooding across a large area.
The company, which has around 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley area, has also shared advice to avoid leaks.
It said that "lagging" pipes before everything thaws helps the ice inside to safely melt before causing any damage, and added that "foam tubing from DIY stores is cheap and simple to install".
Burst pipes on private property are the responsibility of homeowners, so people are being encouraged to have details of a plumber to hand and to ensure that home insurance covers leaking pipes.
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Advice also included locating the inside stop tap "before it’s too late" to ensure homeowners can stop water flow as soon as a leak is spotted.
When water freezes it expands, which can cause cracks and splits to appear in pipes. Leaks typically appear as the ice thaws and water finds the cracks to escape. Uninsulated pipes leading to outside taps, next to cold internal walls and in unheated lofts and garages are particularly at risk.
Thames Water also warned that warmer weather could lead to ground movement, in turn causing pipes to leak or burst.
A level three cold weather alert was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for all of England over the weekend, warning of “increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.
However, as temperatures rose on Sunday it brought warnings of strong winds leading to snow, blizzards and ice and freezing rain, creating hazardous conditions on the roads.