British Gas warns at least 54,000 households may need help with heating and hot water systems as January temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing
This month looks set to bring some seriously chilly weather, with forecasts suggesting temperatures will nosedive below freezing over the next few weeks.
With the cold front approaching, British Gas has issued a warning that roughly 54,000 homes nationwide could require assistance with their heating and hot water systems.
When the thermometer dips below zero, pipes without proper insulation risk freezing, causing ice to expand and pressure to surge — often resulting in cracks that lead to leaks or flooding once the temperature rises.
Last year, over 1.2 million customers contacted British Gas engineers to repair faulty boilers and restore their heating and hot water. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to avoid being among those figures in 2026.
Joanna Flowers, a service and repair engineer at British Gas, explained: “Frozen pipes are one of the most common issues we see during cold snaps, but the good news is they’re usually simple to sort out if you act quickly.”
Should you discover your heating has packed in or water’s stopped flowing from your taps, here’s the drill:
- Locate the frozen section — if you have a modern condensing boiler, it’ll most likely be your condensate pipe.
- Thaw it safely by slowly pouring hot (but never boiling) water over the frozen pipe, and then place a hot water bottle over it to help melt away the ice.
- Once the pipe has thawed, reset the boiler. If the pipe was the issue, then the boiler should fire up as normal.
Yet if you find yourself facing a burst pipe, the expert advises: “Turn off the water supply at the stopcock straight away. Open all the taps to drain the system and keep the supply off until a qualified engineer can assess the damage and carry out the repair.”
She urged households to lag pipes from the outset. Joanna says: “Frozen pipes can cause serious damage, often cracking or bursting when water turns to ice.
“The simplest way to avoid costly repairs is to stop them from freezing in the first place. Wrapping pipes with inexpensive insulation from a DIY store helps retain warmth and reduce heat loss.”
How to prevent frozen pipes and avoid other winter problems
- Insulate pipes.
- Ensure boilers receive regular maintenance.
- Bleed your radiators.
- Keep draughts at bay by ensuring all windows and doors are properly sealed.
- Avoid heating rooms you aren’t using, such as conservatories or offices that are only needed when you’re working from home.
