January is a time for getting your house in order, and the last thing anyone wants is an expensive pipe repair as a result of freezing temperatures.

With Met Éireann predicting ongoing chilly weather, we sough advice from plumbing expert Sean Richardson of Complete Plumbing Solutions who compiled his top tips on how to prevent pipes from freezing and worse, bursting.

"We all know that when water freezes it expands greatly,” Richardson said.

“This pressure can then cause your pipes to burst. A burst pipe can cost up to €2,000 to repair depending on the severity of the damage, so it’s advisable to take every precaution you can.”

Tips to avoid burst pipes

Keep water running

The tiniest trickle can sometimes be enough to stop a devastating freeze. “Met Éireann [is] pretty good at forecasting when there’ll be a particularly harsh drop in temperatures, so turn your taps on and allow just a trickle to come through the pipes," Richardson said.

"We’re not saying do this with all of the taps in the house [or the farm], but just the ones that are supplied by exposed pipes.

"The constant movement of the water through the pipes will help prevent freezing and relieve any potential pressure build up that could burst a pipe.”

Insulate pipes when possible

Pipe insulation is cheap, widely available and can potentially save you hundreds of euro.

“A metre length of pipe insulation can be as cheap as €2 so it really is a no-brainer, you could have all of your pipes insulated for less than €100," the plumbing expert advised.

"We would always advise that you focus on the most vulnerable sections of your plumbing; the exterior pipes and the pipes located in the unheated areas of your home, like the attic.

"It may sound funny, but it definitely does the job in a pinch.”

Keep the heat on

Energy prices are still quite high, so, understandably, this may not seem like the most appealing option. However, a small bump in your heating costs will still cost far less than the repair of a burst pipe, according to the plumbing experts.

“When temperatures dip, we tend to blast the heat during the day and turn things down at night; this isn’t helping your internal plumbing," Richardson explained.

"Try and keep your heating at a more consistent temperature over the 24-hour period as this will keep the pipes from freezing. Ideally, you should always be around 12°C at least.”

Keep cabinets and doors open

“Keeping cabinets and doors open is a simple but effective measure to keep warm air circulating around your pipes," Richardson continued.

"In most homes, the kitchen or bathroom plumbing is tucked away behind a cabinet door of some sort. During a cold snap, you should open these doors to allow the warm air from inside the house to get around the pipes, keeping them free from blockages.”

Plug the gaps

There are dozens of unhelpful cracks and openings throughout every home, and a cold snap is the perfect time to sort them out.

“Around this time of year, you should be checking around your doors and windows for any holes and large gaps that are letting all of the warm air in your home escape and letting cold air in," the plumber said.

"Windowsills are a common leakage point, so if you have any cabling running externally to internally, examine where it enters the home for gaps. By sealing these gaps, you’re helping your overall home insulation which in turn benefits the plumbing.”

Emergency Q&A

Q: My pipes are already frozen but haven’t burst: What can I do?A: The good news is that you have a few options to avoid catastrophe. First things first, shut off the water at the mains. This is usually located either under the sink or somewhere near your water meter.

If you allow the water to continue to flow you could be making the situation worse and allowing the pressure to build, which would cause a break.

Q: How do I know the pipes are actually frozen?

A: If the water is very slowly coming from a tap or stops completely, you’ve got a freeze. If the problem only exists with one tap, it’s a local issue rather than a system-wide problem.

Q: How do I to thaw a pipe?A: There are some simple tricks to try out, including: hair dryer - you can use a hair dryer to thaw the pipe slowly, applying heat up and down the affected length of pipe; warm towels - wrap a warm towel around the frozen pipe. This should free up the blockage and not shock the pipe too much.

Put a bucket or some other towels on the ground to catch the excesses. A hot water bottle would also work in this situation.

Q: My pipes have burst: What now?A: It goes without saying, but time is of the essence. Repairs should always be left to a professional, but there are some steps you can take to minimise the damage.

For instance, turn off the water mains as soon as possible. The last thing you want to do is pull more water through the pipe so remove the supply and try to minimise the damage.

Next step is to call a plumber and see how soon they can get out to see you. From here, try and get rid of as much of the water as you possibly can so as to prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

Q: Is there anything I can do to fix a burst pipe in the interim before a plumber arrives?A: Yes, if you’ve got the right tools laying around. You’ll need a clamp, a block of wood and some rubber. You can place the rubber over the breakage in the pipe, cover it with the wooden block and then use a clamp to keep everything together.

"I must stress, this is a very temporary fix and won’t last long. Similarly, you can purchase some pipe repair sleeves that can be slipped over the affected area to keep the water in the pipe. Again, these won’t last long, so contact a professional plumber as soon as you can," Richardson said.