Many water installations burst and freeze during the winter due to freezing conditions. By taking a few simple, basic steps, you can prevent problems caused by low temperatures that affect indoor installations, pipes, meters, stopcocks, garage taps, outdoor taps and garden irrigation systems, among others, especially in residential developments, isolated homes and terraced houses.

Viaqua, as a water provider, offers a number of recommendations to prevent faults in installations during the winter:

•Check all your installations, such as taps, boilers and meters. A simple check is often enough to prevent serious problems.

•At the first sign of freezing, protect all water pipes with an insulating material, such as fibreglass

•If you are not going to use water for a long period, turn off the stopcock and empty the pipes, to ensure there’s no water left in them.

•If there are problems with your installations due to freezing, take all necessary measures as soon as possible. If not, it may happen again the following year.

If it is too late for prevention and a solution is required, Viaqua recommends:

•Do not force stopcocks.

•Apply hot air and never light fires in hatches or next to meters.

•Don’t hesitate to contact a professional if you have problems.

These types of incidents can have a serious impact on your bill and cause unnecessary damage to your home.