YORKSHIRE Water is sounding a warning about the risk of frozen pipes resulting in bursts for Bradford homeowners and others around the region as the wintry weather continues.

Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that 374,000 claims for damage caused to homes by frozen pipes were made across the country last year alone.

Many customers do not realise that, if a pipe is damaged within the boundary of their property, the costs of repairing it will be their responsibility. Yorkshire Water said it receives thousands of calls from customers unsure which pipes they have a duty of care for.

And with the average cost to repair a burst pipe coming in at an eye-watering £6,500 to £7,500, Yorkshire Water and the ABI are joining forces to issue some sound advice to customers on keeping both their home happy this winter.

Simple measures that can be put in place to save customers both the money and stress caused by an incident include spotting the potential problem areas and keeping an eye out for any pipework and taps that might be exposed to freezing temperatures.

In the event of a pipe becoming frozen, customers are advised to not use central heating to thaw it out; turn off the stop tap; check for dripping water and split pipes; if there aren’t any leaks, turn the stop tap back on and open a tap inside the house; use a hairdryer to gently melt the ice in the direction of the flow of water; never use a naked flame; if after thawing a pipe has burst, turn off the stop tap immediately and contact a plumber.

Local approved plumbers can be found at watersafe.org.uk.