Highveld winter nights get cold enough to freeze water in exposed pipes — and ageing pipework does the rest. A little preparation now saves you a flooded ceiling and a painful insurance claim later.
Why winter is burst-pipe season
Water expands when it freezes. In an exposed or poorly insulated pipe, that expanding ice cracks the pipe, which then bursts when it thaws. Older galvanised and worn copper pipes are most vulnerable.
Insulate the vulnerable spots
Lag exposed pipes — outdoor taps, geyser supply and return pipes, and any plumbing in unheated areas. Foam pipe insulation is cheap and effective. Cover outdoor taps with covers or cloth on the coldest nights.
Keep water moving and fix drips
On very cold nights, a slight trickle from a tap keeps water moving and reduces freezing risk. Fix dripping taps and small leaks before winter — they are weak points that fail first.
Know your stopcock
If a pipe does burst, shutting the main stopcock fast is what limits the damage. Find and test yours now, before you need it. See our emergency plumbing checklist.
Get a pre-winter check
A quick plumbing inspection catches worn pipes and unprotected outdoor plumbing before the cold hits. If a pipe does burst, we handle burst pipe repairs across Sandton, Midrand and the East Rand — call 082 886 9119.