# Frozen pipes and hidden leaks: a Nottingham winter checklist

> How freezing weather damages pipes, what to lag before winter, what to do if a pipe freezes, and why to check the meter once it thaws. Water company advice.

URL: https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/blog/winter-supply-pipe-checklist/

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# Frozen pipes and hidden leaks: a winter checklist for Nottingham homes

[Notts Leak Detection](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/) has put together a winter checklist from Severn Trent's own advice, with one step most lists leave out: checking the meter after a thaw.

Published 28 September 2026 · By Notts Leak Detection

When water freezes it expands. In a pipe, that pressure can split the pipe or pull a joint apart. [Severn Trent](https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/tap-water/my-water-pipes/protecting-your-pipes/) explains that the damage often shows as a leak or burst when temperatures rise again. That is why the thaw, not the freeze, is when many winter leaks start.

## Which pipes are at risk

The buried supply pipe is usually the safest part of the system. It is laid 750mm to 1,350mm below ground under the [Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148), deep enough to stay clear of frost. The weak points are where pipes are exposed:

-   where the supply pipe comes up out of the ground and into the house;
-   pipes in lofts, garages, outbuildings and under suspended floors;
-   outside taps and the pipe that feeds them;
-   older supplies that were never laid to the proper depth.

## Before the cold arrives

These steps follow Severn Trent‘s advice:

1.  Lag exposed pipes in lofts, garages and outside. Pipe lagging is sold at DIY stores, and Severn Trent says it is self-sealing but worth taping at the joins.
2.  Cover outside taps with a tap cover, and lag the pipe that leads to them.
3.  Keep the heating on low, or on a timer, when you are out or away, so water keeps moving through the pipes.
4.  Fix dripping taps and toilets, because even small trickles can freeze.
5.  Find your internal stop tap and check it turns, before you need it.

Stop tap seized or missing?

Worth sorting before winter, not during a burst.

0115 839 0791 (+441158390791)

## If a pipe freezes

If it is cold and you have no water, check with a neighbour first. If they have water too, your pipes have probably frozen. Severn Trent‘s advice: turn off the water at your stop tap, then thaw the pipe with gentle heat, such as a warm towel, moving it along the pipe. Never use a naked flame. Turn the water back on and check it flows.

## After the thaw: check the meter

This is the step most winter lists leave out. A pipe that split while frozen may only start leaking once it thaws, and if the split is on a buried or hidden section, you may not see it. On a meter:

1.  Turn off every tap and appliance.
2.  Close the internal stop tap and watch the meter for a few minutes.
3.  If it still moves, water is escaping between the meter and the house.

A leak found early costs less, in water and in repairs. If the meter shows one, see [how to find a water leak underground](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/how-to-find-water-leak-underground/). Once it is fixed, Severn Trent‘s [leakage allowance](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/severn-trent-leak-allowance/) can refund the lost water.

Sources

-   [Severn Trent Water: protecting your pipes](https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/tap-water/my-water-pipes/protecting-your-pipes/)
-   [Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148)

## Related guides

-   [Learn How to find a water leak underground](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/how-to-find-water-leak-underground/)
-   [Decision Guide Is it a water leak or a faulty meter?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/water-leak-or-faulty-meter/)
-   [Learn How does the Severn Trent leak allowance work?](https://nottsleakdetection.co.uk/guide/severn-trent-leak-allowance/)

Think you have a leak? Get it located and written up.

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