29/10/2026
Frozen pipes usually cause the damage on the way back up, not on the way down.
Water expands as it freezes and cracks the pipe. While the ice is still there it plugs the gap. It is when things warm up again that the water starts coming through, which is why a lot of burst pipes show up the morning after a cold snap rather than during it.
Four things worth doing before the first hard frost:
Lag the pipes in your loft, garage and against outside walls.
Find your stop tap now, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
Fix any dripping taps. A slow drip can freeze and block a pipe.
Insulate the outside tap.
None of it takes long, and all of it is a great deal easier in October than in January.