How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter in Edinburgh

🥶 Frozen Pipes: What Every Edinburgh Homeowner Should Know

When winter grips Edinburgh, one of the most common and costly plumbing emergencies we deal with is frozen pipes. Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or run a local business, frozen water in your pipes can lead to burst pipes, serious water damage, and loss of heating or hot water — just when you need them the most.

At Able Girl Plumbing, we’ve helped countless Edinburgh residents avoid winter plumbing disasters. So here’s our expert guide on how to protect your pipes before the frost hits, based on over 20 years of local experience.

🚿 1. Insulate Your Pipes — Especially in Cold Areas

Pipes that run through unheated or poorly insulated spaces are the first to freeze. This includes:

• Lofts and attics
• Crawl spaces
• Basements
• Under kitchen units
• External walls or garages

To protect these vulnerable spots, use foam pipe insulation sleeves (widely available from Screwfix, B&Q, or your local hardware shop). These sleeves are inexpensive, easy to fit, and create a thermal barrier that keeps your pipes just warm enough to avoid freezing — even overnight.

For extra peace of mind, pay close attention to outdoor taps, garden hoses, and exposed pipes near entry points. Disconnect garden hoses and use insulated tap covers where possible.

🌡️ 2. Keep Your Heating On — Even When You’re Away

Planning a winter getaway? It’s tempting to turn everything off to save money, but it’s a false economy if you return home to burst pipes.

Instead, leave your heating on low — around 12–15°C is perfect. This keeps warm water circulating and prevents pipes from freezing in cold spells, especially during the night.

If you're going to be away for several days, you might also:

• Set a timer on your boiler to run heating for a few hours a day
• Open cupboard doors under sinks to let warm air circulate
• Ask a neighbour or friend to check in periodically

🚰 3. Let the Tap Drip (Yes, Really)

If the forecast warns of extreme cold (typically below -4°C for more than 24 hours), a simple trick can help: leave a tap slightly open so water drips slowly.

Why it works:

• Moving water is less likely to freeze
• It relieves pressure buildup in your pipes, which can reduce the risk of a rupture

This tip is especially helpful for properties with long stretches of exposed pipework or older homes without modern insulation. Only use this tip sparingly, and ideally overnight during hard frost warnings.

🔧 4. Know Where Your Stopcock Is (Before You Need It)

In a frozen or burst pipe emergency, every second counts. The first thing you need to do is shut off your water supply at the stopcock.

The stopcock is usually located:

• Under the kitchen sink
• Next to the boiler
• In a downstairs cupboard
• Occasionally in a utility room or cellar

Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to turn it off. A good winter prep habit is to test it before the cold season hits, as older stopcocks can seize up if unused.

If a pipe does freeze:

1. Turn off the stopcock immediately.
2. Try to warm the frozen section slowly (e.g. with warm towels, not open flames).
3. Call a plumber to assess the damage or thaw safely.

🧰 Bonus Tips for Winter Pipe Protection

• Seal gaps where pipes enter your home with caulk or expanding foam to stop cold drafts.
• Upgrade to smart leak detectors that can alert you to unusual moisture or temperature drops.
• Have your boiler serviced annually — it’s the heart of your heating system and helps maintain consistent temperatures throughout the home.
• Check outside drains and gutters — blockages can lead to freezing overflow, which affects nearby pipes.

📞 Call a Trusted Local Plumber Before It’s an Emergency

Most pipe-related disasters could be prevented with a little forward planning. Whether you're unsure if your home is winter-ready or you've already spotted worrying signs (like slow flow, strange pipe noises, or damp smells), don’t wait until it’s too late.

At Able Girl Plumbing, we’re proud to help Edinburgh households stay warm, dry, and worry-free all winter. From insulation and water pressure checks to full plumbing audits and emergency callouts, we’ve got your back.

We’re local. We’re experienced. And we’re ready to help.