The Winter Plumbing Checklist Every Home Needs
Ten minutes in November that prevent the two most expensive January callouts.
Before winter: lag every pipe in an unheated space, insulate the external condensate pipe, service the boiler, check the loft tank lid and insulation, and locate and test your stopcock. Set the heating to hold at least 12-14°C when the house is empty. Most winter emergencies are preventable in an afternoon.
Published 1 July 2026 · Written by the Emergency Plumb engineers
Outside
Isolate and drain outside taps. Lag exposed pipe runs. Clear gutters and downpipes before the leaves freeze into a plug. Check the condensate pipe from the boiler is lagged where it exits the wall.
Inside
Find the stopcock and turn it fully closed and open once, a stopcock that hasn't moved in a decade seizes exactly when you need it. Bleed radiators. Check the boiler pressure sits around 1.2–1.5 bar cold.
Going away
Heating on low (12–15°C) rather than off; a frozen house with heating "off to save money" is the single most expensive economy in plumbing. For long absences, turn the stopcock off and open taps to drain down, an empty pipe cannot burst.
Before the first freeze
Lag loft, garage and external pipework including the boiler condensate. Fix dripping taps. Service the boiler in September rather than waiting for it to fail in October. Turn the stopcock twice so it does not seize. Clear the gutters after leaf-fall. Under an hour in total, and it prevents most of what we attend in January.
During a cold snap
Keep the heating on low overnight rather than off, a few degrees costs far less than a burst. Open the loft hatch on the coldest nights to let warm air into the coldest space. Open cupboard doors under sinks on external walls. And if the boiler locks out, check the condensate pipe before assuming the worst.
Insurance and evidence
Photograph your lagging and your boiler service record. Escape-of-water claims after a freeze are sometimes challenged on the grounds the property was not reasonably maintained, particularly where a house was left empty and unheated. Evidence gathered before an incident is worth considerably more than an account given after one.
The Winter Plumbing Checklist Every Home Needs, your questions
When should I do winter plumbing preparation?
What is the most important single thing to do?
Should I turn the water off if I go away for Christmas?
Do I need to bleed radiators before winter?
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