Advice with dealing with cracked pipes this winter (From Gazette Series)

Severn Trent offer advice with dealing with cracked pipes this winter

11:00am Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Lucy Fulford

DEALING with cracked pipes and other cold weather nasties just got easier, thanks to new online video guides.

Water firm Severn Trent has posted videos on its website which help householders tackle pipe-related emergencies.

Cold weather can wreak havoc on household water pipes, creating significant problems if pipes freeze or burst.

When water freezes within a pipe it expands, increasing the pressure on pipes and joints which can cause pipes to split or joints to pull apart.

David Davies, who has 12 years experience of finding and fixing leaks for Severn Trent, said the videos were a good starting point.

"These new videos are great as they tell you how to find your stop tap, which is essential for damage limitation in an emergency," he explained. "There is also a really useful video showing you what you can do if you do have frozen pipes."

If a major problem is found, it will however usually be necessary to call a plumber.

The video guides can be viewed at Stwater.co.uk/snow and a list of approved plumbers in the area found at Stwater.co.uk/find-a-plumber