At the first sign of a leaking pipe, turn off the water at the main stopcock. This is usually under your kitchen sink or in the garage where the mains supply comes in. If you have a storage tank, you will probably find it nearer to this, perhaps in the airing cupboard or attic.
You probably also have a drain tap which lets you drain your pipes after you have switched off the stopcock.
To prevent leaks, follow these easy tips:
- Make sure your water tank and pipes are insulated properly. It’s a relatively easy DIY job to do – you’ll find a ready-made tank jacket for your water tanks (hot and cold) from your local hardware store. Lag your pipes with rubber insulation.
- Remember that in winter your central heating not only keeps you warm, it can also help to stop pipes and tanks freezing. You should even keep your heating on a low heat when you leave the house to ensure pipes don’t freeze when you are away.
- Pipes can also freeze in cold draughts, so seal draughts in floors and by skirting boards, invest in double-glazing, add draught excluding tape and use draught excluders around doors and letterboxes.
- Have your central heating boiler checked regularly and get it serviced every autumn just in case.
- Repair dripping taps – this is another easy job to do.