Winter Boiler & Plumbing Advice
Prevent frozen pipes, keep your boiler running through cold weather, and know what to do if your heating breaks down this winter.
Winter is when your boiler and plumbing work hardest — and when failures cause the most disruption. A few preventative steps before the cold weather hits can save you from a freezing home and an expensive emergency call-out.
If your boiler has already broken down, book a Gas Safe engineer — we cover Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London with 24/7 response.
Get your boiler serviced before winter
An annual service before the cold weather sets in catches small issues before they become mid-winter breakdowns. A Gas Safe engineer will check combustion, flue integrity, pressure and controls — keeping your boiler running efficiently when you need it most.
Prevent frozen pipes
- Insulate exposed pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls with lagging.
- Leave your heating on low (around 12°C) if you are away during cold snaps.
- Find your stopcock now — you will need it quickly if a pipe does freeze or burst.
- If a pipe freezes, turn off the water at the stopcock and open the tap nearest the frozen pipe to relieve pressure.
Keep your home warm efficiently
Set your thermostat to 18–21°C and use radiator valves to heat rooms you use most. Bleeding radiators before winter improves heat circulation. If your boiler keeps losing pressure, check our boiler losing pressure guide or how to top up boiler pressure.
If your boiler breaks down this winter
Check the basics first: is the power on, is the gas supply on, is the pressure between 1 and 1.5 bar, and is the thermostat calling for heat? If everything looks right but the boiler still will not fire, do not attempt to repair gas components yourself — book a Gas Safe engineer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why does my boiler stop working in freezing weather?
Cold weather can expose existing heating-system problems and may also affect external boiler condensate pipework. If a condensate pipe freezes, some boilers may lock out and display a manufacturer-specific fault code. Always follow the boiler manufacturer's guidance when identifying or dealing with a suspected frozen condensate pipe.
How can I prepare my heating system for winter?
Useful winter preparation includes arranging a boiler service, checking boiler pressure, testing heating controls, bleeding radiators, insulating vulnerable pipework, identifying your main stopcock, checking outside taps, and addressing known leaks before freezing weather arrives.
What is a frozen boiler condensate pipe?
Condensing boilers produce condensate water that must drain away. Where part of the condensate pipe runs externally, very cold conditions can cause that section to freeze and restrict drainage. This can cause the boiler to stop operating or display a fault. Your manufacturer's user instructions may include guidance on safely thawing a frozen condensate pipe.
Still need help?
Our Gas Safe Registered engineers cover Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London — 24/7.