Burst and Frozen Pipes in the Blue Mountains

If a pipe has burst

• Turn off the water at the main tap
• Open the cold taps to drain the system
• Turn off the hot water unit if it is no longer filling
• Soak up water, and move belongings
• Photograph the damage for your insurer
• Call us

More urgent steps are in emergency plumber.

If a pipe has frozen

No water from a tap on a freezing morning usually means frozen pipe, not a supply failure. Check whether other taps work. If only one or two are dry, the frozen section is probably nearby.

To thaw, open the tap and warm the pipe slowly, working from the tap towards the frozen section. Use warm towels or a hair dryer on a low setting. Never use a naked flame or a blowtorch. It can start a fire inside a wall or split the pipe.

Once water is flowing, look for leaks. A split in the pipe will leak as the ice melts.

Where pipes freeze

• Pipes in roof spaces and subfloors
• Pipes in exterior walls, especially on south and shaded sides
• Outside taps and garden hose connections
• Hot water units and pipes mounted outside
• Pipes close to vents or gaps under the floor
• Holiday homes left empty over winter

Protect pipes before winter

• Lag exposed pipes with foam insulation sleeves, joined and taped at corners
• Seal gaps in subfloor walls and under eaves where cold air blows in
• Cover outside taps with insulated caps, and disconnect hoses
• Insulate the pipes and relief valve line on outdoor hot water units
• Know where your main tap is, and label it
• If leaving for a few days in winter, turn off the main water and drain the taps

Foam lagging is low cost and the biggest single improvement. If you have a run that you cannot reach, we can lag it for you.

Holiday homes and rentals

Empty houses are most at risk. A burst pipe in an empty house can run for days. If you own a weekender, turn the water off at the main when you leave, or ask us about a simple setup that makes this easy.

Managing a rental? Check the lagging at the start of May.

A winter checklist for Mountains homes

• Before May, walk around the outside and under the house and look for bare pipes
• Replace any damaged or missing lagging
• Check that your outside hot water unit has a protected relief valve line
• Put a note on the fridge with the location of the main tap
• Ask neighbours or a property manager to check empty properties after a cold snap
• Keep the heating on low in a house you are only leaving for a night or two

None of this is complicated, and an hour in autumn can save a flooded floor in July.

After the thaw

Pipes that froze once often have hairline damage. If you notice damp, a drop in pressure or a higher water bill after a cold snap, get the pipes checked. A small repair now beats a ceiling collapse later.

Related: leaks and taps, hot water.