Cold weather is tough on plumbing. Pipes contract, pressure shifts, and weak joints give way. A burst pipe can flood a home and cost a fortune. The fix is simple: a little care before winter bites.
Why pipes fail in winter
When it gets cold, water and metal contract and expand. Old or exposed pipes take the strain. A small crack you never noticed in summer becomes a leak — or a burst — in the cold.
What you can do now
- Lag exposed pipes. Wrap outdoor and roof-space pipes with pipe insulation. Cheap and effective.
- Fix small leaks early. A drip today is a burst tomorrow. Deal with it now.
- Check your geyser. Winter is when geysers work hardest. A service now prevents a cold surprise.
- Know your main stopcock. If a pipe bursts, you want to shut the water off fast.
Find your main water shut-off valve today and make sure it turns easily. In a burst, those first few seconds matter.
If a pipe does burst
Shut off the water at the mains straight away. Then switch off your geyser and any nearby electrics. Then call a plumber. Fast action limits the damage.
A quick winter check pays off
An hour of prep beats a flooded home. A plumber can spot weak joints and worn seals before they fail.
Kondebe does winter plumbing checks, geyser servicing and burst-pipe repairs across Knysna. R350 call-out, then a clear quote. See our plumbing services.