{"id":1612,"date":"2025-10-14T10:30:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T09:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1612"},"modified":"2026-03-27T16:48:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T16:48:01","slug":"how-to-prevent-burst-pipes-at-your-holiday-let","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-prevent-burst-pipes-at-your-holiday-let\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Pipes from Freezing This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Water ingress or leaks are a real danger to any holiday let and can cause a headache for holiday home owners. In this blog our property experts provide some helpful tips on <em>how to stop pipes from freezing<\/em> during the colder months.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>How to stop pipes from freezing this Winter<\/h2>\n<p>Use the quick links below to navigate to a particular topic or read on to find out more.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#burst-pipes\">How to avoid burst pipes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#stop-freezing\">How to stop pipes from freezing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#heating\">Keep your (central) heating on<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#water-supply\">Turn off your water supply and drain the system<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#property-checks\">Arrange for property checks to be done regularly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pipes-freeze\">What to do when pipes freeze<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prevent-burst\">Why prevent burst pipes?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#holiday-let\">Holiday let advice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"burst-pipes\"><\/a>How to avoid burst pipes<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/12\/bursted-copper-pipe-with-water-leaking-out-544467488_1340x785.jpg\" alt=\"prevent burst pipes\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Insurance companies\u00a0say that one in four domestic claims are for \u201cescape of water\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The damage caused\u00a0by water can cost hundreds, or even thousands of pounds to repair. Although the cost will depend on\u00a0the location of the leak, the amount of water that has \u2018escaped\u2019, and how long it was leaking before being discovered.<\/p>\n<p>The arrival of the winter months can sometimes cause holiday home owners problems. Darker days and nights with increased rainfall and dropping temperatures &#8211; with the potential for frost or even snow &#8211; bring challenges for properties.<\/p>\n<p>This is particularly true for older homes with original pipework and dated heating systems.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking to take advantage of the quieter winter months for routine maintenance, or to titivate and update your property, be mindful of the difficulties inclement weather can bring.<\/p>\n<p>Build a plan with essential winter maintenance broken down into bite-size chunks, and save yourself time, hassle and money, by keeping an eye on the weather forecast for dry periods, when smaller jobs can be completed.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of colder spells, whenever we experience a dip in temperatures, it invariably raises questions such as <strong>\u201cHow to stop pipes from freezing?\u201d<\/strong> and further to that <strong>\u201cHow to avoid burst pipes?\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>So, here are some ways you can prevent burst pipes and protect your holiday let this Winter.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"stop-freezing\"><\/a>How to stop pipes from freezing<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/12\/Four-water-pipes-in-grey-foam-insulation-against-a-brick-wall-1214767093_1369x769.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe lagging\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>To stop pipes from freezing and subsequently <strong>prevent burst pipes<\/strong>, a simple but effective option is to install pipe lagging. Pipe lagging are foam sleeves that are readily available in most hardware shops (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.screwfix.com\/c\/heating-plumbing\/pipe-insulation\/cat831554\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Screwfix<\/a>) and easily installed.<\/p>\n<p>If your pipes are hidden, obviously this job becomes more complex. But in essence, by putting a foam jacket around the central heating or water supply pipes, you are insulating them. This extra padding will allow them to retain any warmth and stop them from getting cold to the point of freezing.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"heating\"><\/a>Keep your (central) heating on<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/12\/Heating-valve-528465889_2138x1405.jpg\" alt=\"central heating - how to stop pipes from freezing\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In order to retain some heat in the property and most importantly in the heating system or the pipes internally, we recommend keeping your heating running through the winter months.<\/p>\n<p>By maintaining a steady temperature of approximately 13 degrees Celsius, your holiday property\u2019s pipework will never drop to sub-zero temperatures. This drop in temperature could cause pipes to freeze and potentially burst. While this results in heating costs, it obviously helps avoid damage, repairs, and an awful lot of stress.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"water-supply\"><\/a>Turn off your water supply and drain the system<\/h2>\n<p>If you would prefer not\u00a0to keep your holiday let heated throughout winter, another way to minimise the risk of flooding is to stop\u00a0the water supply to your property. You can do this via the stop tap, and then drain the water in your pipes.<\/p>\n<p>With no water\u00a0circulating in the system, your pipes and heating system will sit dormant, but safe\u00a0from freezing.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, our recommendation would be to maintain a consistent and steady warmth of around 13 degrees Celsius. As this would keep traditionally built properties dry and in good health.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"property-checks\"><\/a>Arrange for property checks to be done regularly<\/h2>\n<p>If\u00a0you are not near your holiday home, it is\u00a0crucial that there is\u00a0somebody\u00a0close who\u00a0can attend your property. We recommend inspecting your holiday let every 2-3 weeks. Many insurance companies will insist that\u00a0this\u00a0regular check is\u00a0done through the quieter months.<\/p>\n<p>Here at Helpful Holidays, we have many trusted caretakers that can visit your holiday let every week or fortnight. We ask them to carry out a thorough property check that will put your mind at ease.<\/p>\n<p>Our property experts recommend\u00a0keeping your\u00a0heating system repairs and maintenance\u00a0up to date with annual checks. If you are working with an older, less reliable boiler, more frequent checks would be beneficial. And, if your boiler is more than 15\u00a0years old, it is worth looking for a replacement. A more efficient boiler will use less fuel and thereby save you money!<\/p>\n<p>For more information on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/boiler-maintenance-for-your-holiday-cottage\/\">boiler maintenance<\/a> read our blog.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"pipes-freeze\"><\/a>What to do when pipes freeze?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/12\/frozen-bar-472171269_2125x1417-2.jpg\" alt=\"how to stop pipes from freezing - frozen pipes\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you suspect\u00a0your\u00a0pipes\u00a0have frozen, the first\u00a0course of action\u00a0is to\u00a0locate and\u00a0turn\u00a0off your internal stop tap. This should limit the volume\u00a0of water\u00a0flowing through the system which might escape in the event of a burst pipe.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, if you have a tank in your roof space and this has a tap, turn it\u00a0off! Switch\u00a0off your central heating and spend some time looking\u00a0for any visible cracking or damage to pipes\u00a0you can access.<\/p>\n<p>Pipes can be\u00a0in walls and under floors, so\u00a0they can\u2019t always be easily accessed. If you are in any doubt or you find damage to your pipes, call a plumber. If no\u00a0damage is visible and you feel confident, you can try to thaw the pipes, get some towels and buckets so that you are\u00a0prepared.<\/p>\n<p>It is also worth moving any furniture or valuable items\u00a0away from the frozen pipes to avoid damage\u00a0if the water escapes.\u00a0Open any taps\u00a0close to the area where the pipes may have frozen, as this\u00a0will help relieve pressure when the pipe\u00a0thaws and will allow the water out safely.<\/p>\n<p>To identify a frozen pipe, look for a bulge in the pipe.\u00a0When\u00a0you are ready to start thawing any\u00a0sections, warm the pipes\u00a0slowly and\u00a0gently using a hot water bottle or\u00a0a hairdryer \u2013 never use a naked flame!<\/p>\n<p>Once you are certain that the\u00a0pipe has thawed and there is no leak, you can turn your water supply back on. If you are in any doubt, please contact a plumber for help. Here at Helpful Holidays, we work with many reliable plumbers &#8211; do call our owner support team on 01647 433593 and we can put you in touch.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"prevent-burst\"><\/a>Why prevent burst pipes?<\/h2>\n<p>In one day, a burst water pipe can flood your holiday home with up to 48 bathtubs of water. That is approximately 9,600 litres of water!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a name=\"holiday-let\"><\/a>Holiday let advice<\/h2>\n<p>For more useful tips, head over to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/category\/owner-advice\/\">Owner Advice<\/a>\u00a0blog.<\/p>\n<p>Our team of holiday letting experts are always on-hand to offer advice, helping holiday home owners to understand how to stop pipes from freezing and how to keep their holiday let safe from damage.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re happy to answer any holiday letting queries you may have. To find out more about letting with us and request your <strong>FREE Owner Guide<\/strong>, complete the form below.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: -25px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/sykescottages.jotform.com\/jsform\/250763125518961\"><\/script><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>As a holiday letting owner you are responsible for compliance with health &amp; safety laws, regulations and guidance, and for having suitable insurances in place (not Sykes Holiday Cottages or its brands (Sykes)). From time to time, Sykes shares information with you on the topic of health and safety and insurance. When it does so, it is not providing you with advice (legal, financial, tax or otherwise); please seek your own as you see fit. In addition, it is not making any representations or warranties about the information being complete or free from errors or inaccuracies. Sykes shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising under or in connection with your reliance on it.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Water ingress or leaks are a real danger to any holiday let and can cause a headache for holiday home owners. In this blog our property experts provide some helpful tips on how to stop pipes from freezing during the colder months. How to stop pipes from freezing this Winter Use the quick links below [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":2434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[1765,1459,1457,1458,1766,1767,1460,1768,1764],"class_list":["post-1612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-owner-advice","tag-burst-pipes","tag-cornwall","tag-devon","tag-dorset","tag-holiday-cottage","tag-homeowner-advice","tag-somerset","tag-west-country-holiday-home","tag-winter-maintenance","location-south-west-england"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1612"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5521,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1612\/revisions\/5521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.helpfulholidays.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}