United Utilities has issued advice to residents and businesses in Lancashire and across the North West on protecting water pipes during the current cold spell, to avoid bursts and flooding. The Lancashire Resilience Forum published the company's guidance on 31 December 20251, the same date as the company's own newsroom notice, which says a wintry cold snap was predicted to hit over the weekend2.
The company explains the mechanism plainly: when water freezes it expands and puts more pressure on pipes and joints, which can cause them to split or pull apart, and as the water in the pipe thaws it can pour through the damaged pipe and flood into properties1. Its guidance is grouped under three headings1:
| Step | What United Utilities advises |
|---|---|
| Prepare | Know where the stop tap is and check it works, usually under the kitchen sink but sometimes in garages or cellars; have a plumber's number at hand or check whether a pipe leak or burst is covered by home or business insurance |
| Insulate | Insulate pipes in cold places such as outside, the garage and the loft; insulating hot water pipes also prevents heat escaping and helps save money on energy bills |
| Protect | Cover any other exposed equipment, such as outside taps, with an insulated cover |
The Lancashire Resilience Forum page attributes the warning to Rob Moore, who heads up water services for United Utilities in Lancashire, and says he featured on BBC local radio across the North West this week1. The company's own notice attributes the same words to Grant Batty, Water Services Director for United Utilities2. The two sources give the quotation to different people:
"When temperatures drop, pipes that aren't insulated can freeze and this can cause them to block, or even crack which can cause flooding."
The company also highlighted its Priority Services scheme, which aims to provide additional support for customers who might be elderly, in ill health, have a disability or mental health problems, and those who may have financial worries or language barriers1. Registration is available through a secure online form on the company's website, or by calling the Priority Services team direct on 0345 672 28881.
Why it matters for households
The advice applies to homes and businesses in Lancashire and the wider North West, ahead of a cold snap predicted over the weekend1. The practical risk set out by the company is that uninsulated pipes in cold places can freeze, block or crack, and that flooding can follow as thawing water escapes through the damage1. Households with exposed pipework outside, in garages or in lofts are the ones the insulation guidance addresses, and the company notes that lagging hot water pipes also keeps heat in and can help cut energy bills1. For households that may struggle to act on the guidance, the Priority Services scheme is the route the company names, covering older people, those in ill health or with a disability or mental health problems, and customers with financial worries or language barriers1.
What happens next
No further dates have been announced beyond the weekend cold snap predicted in the company's 31 December notice2. United Utilities directs customers to its winter advice page for what to do about a burst pipe and how to protect a home this winter1. Households can read more general guidance in the site's home emergencies hub.
Sources (2)
- Protect your pipes over the cold snap | Lancashire Resilience Forum, lancashireprepared.org.uk
- United Utilities offers advice to customers on how to protect their pipes during winter, unitedutilities.com
