British Gas shares how to thaw frozen pipes with step-by-step guide amid cold snap

dailyrecord.co.uk:

British Gas has issued advice to people across the UK on how to fix frozen pipes in their homes.This week, temperatures plummeted to as low as -17 degrees and snowfall and ice has wreaked havoc on transport, with Shetland experiencing severe power outages.It's more important than ever to stay warm at home, but the sub-zero temperatures may mean your heating and hot water has stopped all of a sudden due to freezing water blocking the pipes.If you're experiencing this, you may not need to fork out for a specialist to come and fix it - because British Gas has provided a step-by-step guide on how to tackle the problem yourself.It's important to act quickly if you've got frozen or burst pipes, so these tips could save you time and money as you won't have to wait for an engineer to come out.Before your pipes freeze over, there are a couple of things that could happen which are telltale signs.

First, your central heating could be making a 'gurgling' noise, your boiler won't switch on, or your taps produce little or no water.

A clogged sink could also be a sign of frozen pipes, as well as your toilet flushing more slowly than normal. Next, it's time to actually find the pipe that's causing the problem.

British Gas says that this is often the condensate pipe, which is the one that goes from your boiler through the wall and to the outside of your home.