UISCE ÉIREANN has issued advice on how to avoid burst pipes and water outages during the cold weather.

The utilities company is warning that water expands by almost 10% when frozen, which can cause even new pipes to split leading to leaks and flooding.

Top tips include insulating exposed pipes and water tanks, fixing dripping taps, servicing your boiler, knowing where the stop valve is and how to turn it off, and minimising draughts.

Margaret Attridge, UE’s head of water operations, said: ‘We know from previous winters that freezing conditions can cause significant disruption for homes and businesses across the country.

‘By taking simple steps now, like insulating pipes and checking stop valves, you can prevent costly damage and help keep water flowing for everyone. Our crews are ready to respond, but prevention is always better than cure.’

She also advises that people should not leave taps running as this will not necessarily prevent pipes from freezing and can impact on your local water supply.

‘We also recommend that people don’t run taps continually as this is not an effective way of preventing frozen pipes and can cause other problems such as frozen drains. It also puts further pressure on water supplies that may already be challenged by the freezing conditions.’

Businesses are advised to protect outdoor and exposed plumbing, monitor vacant premises, and plan for staff access ensuring keyholders know how to turn off the water in an emergency.

Visit https://www.water.ie/winterproofing for step-by-step guidance and videos on protecting your home. Updates on local issues are available via the website, water.ie. Customers with medical or mobility needs can register for priority assistance during outages by keeping the helpline number handy for urgent issues (1800 278278).