Scottish Water is asking people across Scotland to take a few simple steps now to protect their homes and businesses from the deep cold that lies ahead as the first real hint of winter begins to settle across the country.
The appeal comes as the utility warns that frozen pipes, sudden thaws and rising demand have combined in recent years to create widespread damage and costly disruption for households from the Borders to the Highlands.
Although the weather remains relatively mild just now, Scottish Water says this is exactly the moment to act, because waiting until the frost arrives often leaves people facing preventable repairs that drain both time and money at the hardest point of the year.
The utility is also urging customers to remember that water remains a precious resource as reservoir levels in parts of the east are still around a quarter below average after a dry summer that left the system under pressure.
The warning comes with practical advice, starting with the reality that when temperatures fall below zero the water inside pipes freezes and expands, and when it thaws the sudden shift can cause pipes to crack or burst, sending water through ceilings, cupboards, garden walls and any space where a vulnerable pipe has been left exposed.
Recent winters have followed a familiar pattern of long cold snaps followed by sharp thaws, each one bringing a rise in bursts across Scotland and creating problems not only for property owners but for the wider network that has to absorb the sudden strain.
During the winter of twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four Scottish Water recorded about three thousand one hundred bursts across its system, and more than thirty percent of those happened on customer properties where frozen pipework gave way as temperatures lifted.
The utility says this year’s message is the same as ever, urging people to heat, insulate and protect any property they are responsible for, whether it is their main home, a holiday cottage or a business premises.
Modern boilers often come with built in frost protection that will activate if the temperature drops too low, but Scottish Water reminds people that this only works if the boiler is left powered on, especially if they plan to be away during cold spells.
Insulation remains one of the simplest and cheapest ways to guard against the cold, and the utility encourages customers to check for gaps at bends or fittings and to make sure water tanks and outdoor pipework are properly wrapped before frost sets in.
Owners of modern condensing boilers are also being advised to insulate the plastic condensate pipe so it does not freeze and block, because if that happens the boiler can shut down at the very moment the property needs heat most.
The utility also encourages people to make sure someone they trust can check on their property if they are away, and reminds households that even small drips or draughts can increase the risk of pipes freezing if left unattended.
Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Farrer, said the message is about taking sensible steps before the weather turns challenging.
He said:
“It is sensible and prudent to prepare for the possibility of severe weather and the potential impact that has on property.”
He said customers can avoid the worst of winter by following the basic guidance.
“By taking steps to insulate and protect properties and pipes, customers can avoid the considerable inconvenience and costs caused by frozen or burst pipes.”
He added that early action can help reduce water loss at a time when the wider network faces increasing pressure.
“Taking early action to reduce the risk of such bursts can also help reduce the amount of water lost through leakage from our system, which has affected us during some winters when there has been freeze and thaw weather>’
He said the message is clear.
“Water is always worth saving at any time of year.”
