Avoiding frost damage

Preventing frozen pipes

Maintain a reasonable level of heating in your home at all times and especially during periods of severe weather.

If you have frozen pipes

Thaw them out by applying gentle heat, eg a hair-dryer or warm water. Never use a naked flame near flammable material or in the loft space.

If the pipe is part of the hot water system, extinguish the source of heat (eg immersion heater or central heating).

Do not use the immersion heater.

If you have burst pipes

Turn off the water at the main stop valve. This is normally in the kitchen or in the street - find out where it is now!

Extinguish sources of heat, switch off the immersion heater, turn on all taps and flush the toilet.

Should there be a risk of water penetrating electrical fittings, switch off the electricity at the mains.

If leaving the house unoccupied

Arrange to have the water supply turned off and the plumbing system drained.

If you are a Midlothian Council tenant, contact the Council and this work will be carried out free of charge.

For Midlothian Council tenants

We operate a 24 hour emergency repair service which can be contacted on 0131 663 7211. The service is restricted to tenants of Midlothian Council properties only.

Tenants should ensure that their contents insurance policy provides adequate cover against damage through burst or frozen pipes as the Council's insurance covers the building and its fixtures only.