How to keep your pipes from freezing.
Our top winter tips for your home.
Protect your home from the cold weather this winter with our advice. And find out more about Tesco Home Insurance.
Published: 29 August 2025
Be prepared for the cold weather
Burst pipes are a common problem during periods of freezing weather. So, it’s best to be prepared - and know what to do - when the cold weather comes.
Home insurance can help to cover the cost of repairs, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of damage to your home.
Freezing weather advice
What to do if your pipes freeze and burst
When water freezes and turns to ice in your pipes, it expands. Then the pipes can crack or burst completely. And that can cause leaks and major damage to your plumbing - especially when the ice starts to melt.
If you’ve got frozen pipes, or you think a pipe has burst, take the following steps straight away:
- Turn off your water supply. Find the stopcock or valve. It’s usually in a room with a water supply on the ground floor - for example, under the kitchen sink. It looks like a metal tap. Turn it clockwise (to the right) until you can’t turn it anymore, so the valve’s completely closed.Turn off your water supply. Find the stopcock or valve. It’s usually in a room with a water supply on the ground floor - for example, under the kitchen sink. It looks like a metal tap. Turn it clockwise (to the right) until you can’t turn it anymore, so the valve’s completely closed.
- Contain the leaking water. Use a bucket to catch as much of the water as you can, so it can’t cause too much damage. You could also wrap a towel around the burst pipe, to reduce the amount of water that’s getting out.Contain the leaking water. Use a bucket to catch as much of the water as you can, so it can’t cause too much damage. You could also wrap a towel around the burst pipe, to reduce the amount of water that’s getting out.
- Turn off the electricity. If there’s water escaping anywhere near the wiring in your house, it could be dangerous. Turn off the electricity at the fuse box to make it safe.Turn off the electricity. If there’s water escaping anywhere near the wiring in your house, it could be dangerous. Turn off the electricity at the fuse box to make it safe.
How to protect your home from the cold and prevent pipes from freezing
It’s a good idea to carry out regular maintenance around your house and check for anything that needs attention before it becomes a problem.
- Get your boiler serviced once a year. Make sure your heating system’s working well and won’t break down when a cold snap comes. For more advice on boiler maintenance, see our guide: How to take care of your boiler.Get your boiler serviced once a year. Make sure your heating system’s working well and won’t break down when a cold snap comes. For more advice on boiler maintenance, see our guide: How to take care of your boiler.
In winter, take the following steps to protect your home before the cold sets in.
- Cover exposed pipes. Make sure any water pipes that are exposed to the cold - like outside pipes or water pipes in the attic - are properly insulated.Cover exposed pipes. Make sure any water pipes that are exposed to the cold - like outside pipes or water pipes in the attic - are properly insulated.
- Turn off the water supply for outside taps. If there’s an isolation valve on the inside pipe leading to the outside tap, turn it off, and remove any excess water inside the tap once you’ve done it.Turn off the water supply for outside taps. If there’s an isolation valve on the inside pipe leading to the outside tap, turn it off, and remove any excess water inside the tap once you’ve done it.
- Cover outside taps. If you can't turn off the water supply to an outside tap, put a thermal tap jacket on it to protect it from the cold. You can get these cheaply online or from your local DIY store.Cover outside taps. If you can't turn off the water supply to an outside tap, put a thermal tap jacket on it to protect it from the cold. You can get these cheaply online or from your local DIY store.
- Don’t let the house get too cold. If you have a smart thermostat, use the anti-frost setting to keep your pipes from freezing. If you don't have that, keep the heating on at a low temperature, so your house warms up if it gets too cold.Don’t let the house get too cold. If you have a smart thermostat, use the anti-frost setting to keep your pipes from freezing. If you don't have that, keep the heating on at a low temperature, so your house warms up if it gets too cold.
- Plan ahead if you’re going away over winter. Turn off the water supply and drain your system to prevent your pipes from freezing. Or keep the heating on at a low temperature, so your house warms up if it gets too cold while you’re away.Plan ahead if you’re going away over winter. Turn off the water supply and drain your system to prevent your pipes from freezing. Or keep the heating on at a low temperature, so your house warms up if it gets too cold while you’re away.
For more ways to protect your home from the cold conditions, see our guide: How to prepare your home for winter.
Check your home insurance
Make sure you’ve got both buildings and contents insurance. And check what you’re covered for, so you’re prepared if something happens during the freezing weather.
Need home emergency cover this winter?
Tesco Home Emergency Cover can give you extra protection for an additional cost. It comes with:
- 24-hour support for unexpected problems24-hour support for unexpected problems
- up to £1000 worth of cover for each call-outup to £1000 worth of cover for each call-out
- no limit on the number of call-outs you can make.no limit on the number of call-outs you can make.
So, you can sort out problems caused by the freezing weather - like burst pipes or broken boilers - without any fuss.
Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply.
How to make a Home Insurance claim
If you have Tesco Home Insurance, find out how to make a claim and what to expect from us when you do.
Important information
Tesco Home Insurance is arranged and administered by Tesco Insurance and is underwritten by Tesco Underwriting Ltd.
Home Emergency Cover is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance SA.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
Learn more about Home Insurance
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