BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDERS WARNED TO PREPARE FOR WINTER FROSTS TO AVOID BURST PIPES (Press Release)
Every year businesses and householders throughout the region return from the Christmas and New Year break to find expensive damage has been done because water pipes freeze over the holiday period and cause leaks when they thaw. South Staffs Water is urging its customers to avoid costly repairs and interruptions by taking preventative action.
To reduce the risk of frost damage the water company is suggesting that customers:
- Lag exposed pipes and those in the loft
- Repair any dripping taps
- Make sure you know where the stop tap is just in case the water needs to be turned off
- Consider keeping the heat on low over the holiday break
Rachel Barber, Director of Customer Services said ”We hope our customers will take a few simple precautions if they are planning on leaving their property unoccupied over the coming festive period. Burst water pipes in buildings is a cause of major upset and inconvenience. People should think about both their home and their workplace to avoid a nasty shock on their return”.
The water company is also repeating warnings about bogus callers. Rachel Barber commented that “It is extremely rare for anyone from the water company to have to enter someone’s property without an appointment. We are not responsible for plumbing work on premises. If anyone is in doubt they should phone the water company or the police before allowing anyone to enter their property”.
Note to editors:
- 1. South Staffordshire Water serves large parts of the Black Country, including Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley, together with areas such as Tamworth, Uttoxeter, Burton, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield and Cannock. In total, the Company serves a population of 1.2 million. The Company supplies 330 million litres of water every day across a network of pipes that total 6,000 km in length to approximately 500,000 homes and 36,000 business customers in a 1,500km2 area.