Tips for tackling frozen pipes

[YorksWater]

Customer calls to Yorkshire Water are expected to be almost double what they would typically be by the close of play today as temperatures continue to remain below zero across the region.

 

By 3pm today (Tuesday 21 December), we had received 6,835 over the previous eight hours, with us drawing on extra resources and almost doubling our call handling staff who are fielding the huge volume of customer calls coming in, predominantly around frozen pipes in their homes.

 

Call levels have remained high since the weekend fielding around 2,000 calls on Sunday 19 December and 6,500 calls yesterday. On a typical weekday, the team would expect to field around 4,000 calls whilst on Sunday's call levels usually fall to around 350.

 

Between 6am and 3pm today, we received;

- 1,060 calls from Bradford-based customers

- 1,000 calls from Leeds-based customers

- 700 calls from Hull-based customers

- 607 calls from York-based customers

 

Frozen pipes inside people's homes have meant that some customers have not had access to water and we've been providing them with advice on how to thaw frozen pipes and helping vulnerable customers, such as the elderly or people who require water for medical reasons, by delivering bottled water to their homes wherever possible.

 

Pat Hargreaves, Yorkshire Water’s customer experience manager, comments:"We've seen a huge increase in calls coming in from customers about frozen pipes since the weekend and we’re working really hard to help them by getting advice to them about how they can thaw any frozen pipes and make sure they’re well protected from the elements.

 

“There are a few simple measures any customer who is suffering from a frozen pipe can take to hopefully resolve the problem.

 

“We’re advising customers to apply a gentle heat to any frozen pipes, using a hairdryer or similar heat appliance to carefully direct the heat to where it is needed, thawing the pipe at the end nearest the tap first.

 

“It’s important a gentle heat is used and it’s applied gradually, rather than a sharp extreme burst which could result in the pipe bursting. We’re also stressing to customers that a naked flame should never be used to thaw pipes.”

 

We've also reiterated our advice to customers on how they can protect pipes in their home from the freezing temperatures, simply by keeping their homes heated at a low level and wrapping up all pipework, cisterns and tanks using good quality waterproof foam lagging. If a burst does develop on one of your pipes, you can stop the water flow by turning off your stop tap which is typically located under the kitchen sink.

 

For further information and an audio guide on what to do if you have a frozen pipe and how to protect your pipes this winter, customers can visit yorkshirewater.com/frost.

[chem1st]

Remember not to put turkeys down the drain.

[kelly1980]

Thats great if they have frozen in house. And if they are frozen in the street ??????????????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please advise.

Edited December 21, 2010 by kelly1980