Burst & frozen pipes
Water pouring from a pipe or through the ceiling? Turn off your stop tap, then call us. We answer 24/7.
Do this now
- Turn off the stop tap. It’s usually under the kitchen sink.
- Keep away from wet electrics. Switch off at the consumer unit if it’s safe to reach.
- Open the cold taps to drain the pipes.
- Call 0117 214 1207.
Why pipes burst
Frost is the classic cause. Water expands as it freezes and splits the pipe, and the leak often shows only when it thaws. Pipes in lofts, garages, outbuildings and on outside walls are most at risk. Pipes also fail through corrosion, old joints, accidental damage, and pressure or movement on older runs.
Thawing a frozen pipe safely
Bristol Water advises thawing a frozen pipe gently with warm towels or a hot water bottle. Never use a blowtorch or naked flame. If the pipe has already split, don’t thaw it: turn the water off and call us.
Preventing it next winter
- Lag pipes and tanks in the loft, garage and any outbuildings
- Know where your stop tap is and check it turns
- Keep the heating on low if you’re away in cold weather
- Isolate and drain outside taps before the first frost
Source: Bristol Water, advice on protecting pipes from bursts, November 2025.
When a pipe bursts in the loft
Lofts are where many winter bursts start. Pipes and cold water tanks up there sit in the coldest part of the house, often above the insulation rather than under it. When one splits, water spreads across the ceiling before anyone notices, and the first sign is often a stain or a drip from a light fitting.
If water is coming through near a light, keep clear of the switch and the fitting. Turn the power off at the consumer unit if you can reach it safely. Turn off the stop tap, then open the cold taps downstairs to drain what’s left in the pipes. If you have a cold water tank in the loft, water may keep running from it for a while after the main stop tap is closed. A gate valve on the pipe coming out of the tank, if there is one, can stop that.
After the repair
Once the pipe is fixed, plaster and timber still need time to dry. Leave ceilings to dry out before decorating, and let your insurer know what happened as early as you can. It’s also worth asking us to look at the rest of the pipework near the burst, especially in a loft or under a floor, so you can deal with any other exposed sections before the next cold snap.
Questions
My stop tap won’t turn. What now?
Don’t force it, because old stop taps can snap. Call us. If there’s an isolation valve near the leak, a flat-head screwdriver quarter-turn may stop that section.
Can you replace a seized stop tap?
Yes. It’s one of the most useful small jobs you can have done, so you can actually turn the water off in an emergency.
Do you come out at night for a burst?
Yes. We answer 24 hours a day, every day.
Other services
Leak detection & repair
Drips under sinks, damp patches on ceilings, a meter that keeps turning. We trace the source and repair it.
Leak repair →Blocked drains
Slow sinks, overflowing gullies, a blocked manhole or toilet. We clear blockages and find out what caused them.
Blocked drains →Toilet repair & replacement
Constant running, weak flushes, leaks at the base, blocked pans. Repairs, new cisterns and full replacements.
Toilet repairs →Taps & sinks
Dripping or stiff taps, limescale-clogged aerators, new kitchen and bathroom taps, sink waste and trap leaks.
Taps and sinks →Pipework repair & replacement
Corroded, noisy or leaking pipes, outside taps, stop taps, and replacing old lead or galvanised runs.
Pipework →Appliance plumbing
Plumbing in washing machines and dishwashers, new valves, waste connections and fixing leaks behind appliances.
Appliance plumbing →Bathroom & kitchen plumbing
Replacing basins, baths, mixer showers, sinks and wastes. Plumbing only, no gas or electrical work.
Bathroom and kitchen →Plumbing problem right now?
Call us any time of day or night. Quotes are free over the phone.