Check for burst pipes as the big freeze continues

An appeal has gone out from South East Water for people to help find leaks both inside their homes, on business premises and out in streets and fields.

With the first winter cold snap due to come to an end this weekend, thawing snow and ice makes pipes susceptible to bursting which could cause damage, wasting water and money.

South East Water - which supplies 2.3 million customers in parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire - is seeing high demand for tap water which it believes could be due to leaking pipes or outside taps left on.

The water company is seeing an increase in the number of burst pipes on its own network and has repair teams out 24/7 fixing leaks and bursts.

Steve Andrews, South East Water’s Head of Central Operations, said: “We are asking people to look in their attics, airing cupboards, under their sinks and to check the taps out in their gardens to see if they have any unnoticed leaks which could be a trickle at the moment but later will cause major damage. If leaks are detected, they should turn off their water supply at the stop tap and call a registered plumber.

“We’re also urging business owners to check their unoccupied premises and landlords any unoccupied homes as if there is a leak it could cause continued damage to their property as well as wasting valuable water supplies.

“Those with outdoor troughs for horses and livestock should also check they are not running water to waste or have been damaged by the sub-zero conditions.

“It shouldn’t take long but taking these steps now, and throughout the weekend as the ice thaws, can make all the difference - and could save customers a bit of money if it’s found water is running to waste.

“We are doing our part too by finding and fixing bursts on our network.

“It is impossible to predict which pipes will burst and where, so we have had crews on standby 24 hours a day and are prioritising the most serious ones.

“While this is the first really cold weather we’ve seen this winter, we may have further cold snaps, so it’s important we are all prepared and ready for when that happens.”

South East Water’s website: southeastwater.co.uk has lots of tips on how to make homes winter-ready and what to do if there’s a problem.