As temperatures drop, Southern Water is encouraging its customers to be vigilant and prepare their homes for the cold weather to avoid frozen pipes which can lead to disruption to water supply, bursts and costly repairs.
Last year Southern Water was informed of 200 household leaks between Christmas and New Year’s Eve and over nearly 5000 between December 2021 and February 2022 alone. A leak that happens on customer property is the responsibility of the homeowner and repairs can cost more than £500.
Most household leaks during the winter months are due to cold weather, so Southern Water is urging customers to avoid these unexpected costs by insulating their water pipes to stop them from freezing. The water firm is also encouraging all households to locate their stop-tap, or “stop-cock”, so that if a burst occurs during the festive season the water can be shut off quickly to avoid loss of water and increase usage charges.
If you spot a leak while you're out and about you can call Southern Water’s emergency phone number 0330 303 0368.
Other ways you can avoid costly repairs over the festive season are to avoid putting any fats, oils or grease down your kitchen sink when cooking, and ensuring items like wipes, cotton buds and sanitary items are not flushed down the loo. These items can stick together and form blockages in the waste water pipes, and can cause nasty consequences for homeowners.
An array of information is available for customers on the Southern Water website, including information on how to prepare your home for winter and how to stop your pipes freezing and bursting.
In other news, Southern Water announced £98m support package to cut costs and fight the corner for thousands of customers facing cost of living crisis this week.