Burst pipes and boiler problems

Cold weather can cause burst pipes and stop boilers from working. This page explains how to reduce the risk, what to do if a problem happens, and who to contact for help. Acting quickly can reduce damage to your home and get your heating and hot water back on sooner.

How to prevent burst pipes

You can lower the risk of pipes freezing by taking a few simple steps:

• Know where your stopcock is and check that you can turn it off and on
• Keep your heating on at a low level, around 13°C, to stop pipes freezing
• Leave kitchen and bathroom cupboard doors open so warm air can reach pipes
• If pipes freeze, thaw them slowly using a hot water bottle or warm cloth
• Never use a blow lamp or naked flame

You can also find winter advice on the Scottish Water website at the end of this page.

What to do if a pipe bursts

If a pipe bursts in your council home:

• Turn off the stopcock if you can do so safely
• Contact Repairs on 0303 123 1010
• If it is out of hours, call the emergency repairs line on 0800 24 20 24

Report the problem as soon as possible to limit damage.

If your condensing boiler stops working

In very cold weather, the condensate pipe on a condensing boiler can freeze and stop the boiler from firing.

You may have a frozen pipe if:

• The temperature has been below freezing
• Your boiler shows a fault code or will not start
• You hear a gurgling sound

First, check your boiler instructions and try resetting it using the reset button. Wait a few minutes to see if it starts.

Thawing a frozen condensate pipe

Only try this if the pipe is at ground level and easy to reach.

• Find the plastic pipe coming from the bottom of the boiler
• Gently warm it using a hot water bottle, heat wrap, or hairdryer
• Do not use boiling water or attempt to reach pipes at height

Once thawed, reset your boiler again.

More winter advice

You can find more help on preparing for cold weather on the Scottish Water website.