ALERT: Top tips for Irish households to avoid 'massive repair bills' amid cold snap

Met Eireann, amid a raft of Status Orange and Yellow warnings, has said "significant snowfall" is likely on Saturday afternoon and evening with temperatures likely to dip to -7 degrees early next week.

The danger of household pipes freezing is likely as experts share ways to prevent damage and high costs of repair. 

Cold weather can cause sections of your home plumbing to burst as frozen water expands and breaks through the pipes.

This could leave households without running water and facing a potentially massive repair bill.

Plumbing Expert Sean Richardson of Complete Plumbing Solutions has warned that it could cost as much as €2,000 to repair a burst pipe.

He said: "We all know that when water freezes it expands greatly, this pressure can then cause your pipe to burst. A burst pipe can cost anywhere from €500 - €2000 to repair depending on the severity of the damage so it’s advisable to take every precaution you can!"

Uisce Eireann shares information on how to check whether you have a frozen or burst pipe.

"If one or more of your taps has stopped working, check with your neighbours to see if they are also experiencing issues. If they are then there may be an issue with the water supply. If they are not then you may have a frozen pipe," according to Uisce Eireann.

READ NEXT: Search for missing teenager stood down as Gardaí issue update

Uisce Eireann have shared what you should do if you have a frozen pipe:

• Turn off the water supply- this will limit leakage or damage to pipes
• Locate the pipe- check the water pressure in appliances such as taps to see if it is lower than usual
• Never turn on hot taps- turn on cold water to relieve pressure on frozen pipe
• Thaw frozen pipe- using a hairdryer on the lowest setting to gently warm the pipe, starting at the end nearest the tap.
• Never- attempt to thaw pipes by turning on immersion or central heating. 

As temperatures fall below zero, we would like to remind people to protect their water pipes from the freezing weather. Water expands by nearly 10% as it freezes, which stops the flow through pipes. Further information can be found here: https://t.co/JRfByL9gB3

— Uisce Éireann - Irish Water (@IrishWater) January 3, 2025

What to do if you have a burst pipe:

• Turn off the water supply
• Drain the system by turning on cold water taps and flushing toilets
• Switch off central heating and immersion 
• When the water heating is completely off, turn on hot taps to further drain the system 
• Switch off the mains if the burst pipe is leaking near any sockets or switches
• Temporarily repair it by binding it tightly with cloth or tape
• Replace it as soon as possible by calling a registered plumper