Burst pipes, frozen pipes, flooding…there are a multitude of issues which can plague your home in the cold winter weather.

We take a look at some hints on how to protect your house this festive season.

1: Insulate

Insulation in your house is a must to keep your house cozy over the winter period, but insulating water tanks and pipes can help the pipes from freezing and bursting.

Pipe insulation, otherwise known as lagging, is one of the cheapest and simplest things you can do to protect your indoor and outdoor pipes – you can buy insulation yourself at all good DIY stores, or a plumber can do it for you.

 2: Test the heating before cold weather sets in

The weather has been fairly mild so far this year, but that does not mean that cold weather will not come on quickly!

Make sure to check your heating and pipes work before the cold weather sets in - and get any small issues fixed before they turn into big issues.

It is also a good idea to make sure that you know where your main stopcock is located so that you can switch off your water in case of an emergency.

3: Leave the heating on – even if you are going away

If you’re going on holiday, you might think it’s a waste of money to leave your heating on - but it would cost less than a burst pipe!

Setting your heating on timed to a low temperature – 15 degrees centigrade at least – should prevent pipes from freezing.

If your alarm system allows, leaving doors open will also help the heat to circulate.

4: Look outside

Check your guttering and roof for any sign of damage – and make sure to clean out any overflowing gutters to prevent leaks.

 If your overflow pipe is trickling, make sure you get this fixed!

If the weather is set to get windy, remember to secure any outdoor furniture, and consider removing dead branches from old trees.

5: Frozen pipe? Don’t heat it up too fast!

If you do have a frozen pipe, trying to warm it up too fast can lead to it bursting. Instead, gently heat the pipe using a hairdryer, hot water bottle or towels soaked in warm water. Start by warming the pipe as close as possible to the tap or valve, before working along the length of it, in order to thaw the pipe.

Do you have any more hints for protecting your house from the winter weather? Let us know in the comments below!