Winter Essentials

Cold snaps can turn small plumbing issues into expensive call-outs. When water freezes it expands, which can place huge pressure on pipework, valves and tap bodies. The result is often split fittings, cracked tap housings, leaks when the thaw sets in, or complete loss of supply to external outlets.

Our Winter Essentials range brings together practical products to help you keep water flowing, protect exposed fittings, and reduce the risk of freeze damage on outdoor and unheated installations — from garden taps and external walls to garages, outbuildings and site pipework.

These are designed for isolating water lines in cold conditions, particularly where a standard valve may be more likely to seize or suffer damage during freezing weather.

Helps prevent:

• Frozen valves that won’t operate when you need them

• Cracked valve bodies from ice expansion

• Leaks appearing after a thaw

Typical uses:

• External isolation points

• Outbuildings / garage supplies

• Cold plant rooms or unheated areas

A robust, easy-to-operate shut-off valve option, ideal when you need a clear on/off position and dependable control on exposed lines.

Helps prevent:

• Inability to shut off a line quickly in winter emergencies

• Valve failure caused by freezing or stiffness in cold weather

Typical uses:

• Outdoor service lines

• Maintenance isolation points

• Temporary winter shut-downs

Outdoor taps are one of the most common winter failure points. Ice-resistant bib taps are built to cope better with cold conditions and reduce the chances of cracking or leaking when temperatures drop.

Helps prevent:

• Split tap bodies and leaks after frost

• Drips turning into bigger failures during freeze/thaw cycles

• Loss of use of outdoor water points

Typical uses:

• Garden taps on external walls

• Outdoor wash-down points

• Commercial yard / site outlets

A simple but effective first line of defence: tap covers insulate the tap and the immediate pipe entry point, helping to shield against frost and wind chill.

Helps prevent:

• Freezing around the tap and connection point

• Heat loss from exposed fittings

• Frost damage during short cold spells

Typical uses:

• Any outdoor tap exposed to wind/overnight frost

• Properties with north-facing walls or shaded areas

These are used to temporarily seal pipe ends or isolate sections during testing, maintenance, draining-down, or winter preparation.

Helps prevent:

• Water remaining trapped in open-ended pipe runs (a common freeze risk)

• Ingress of debris during winter works

• Disruption during pressure testing / commissioning

Typical uses:

• Temporary isolation during repairs

• Sealing ends while systems are drained or pressure-tested

• Winter shutdowns on external lines

Winter plumbing work is harder (and riskier) when your hands are cold or wet. Thermal, grippy gloves help you keep control of tools and fittings while working outside.

Helps prevent:

• Loss of dexterity when handling fittings and tools

• Reduced grip in wet/icy conditions

• Minor hand injuries during cold-weather work

Typical uses:

• Outdoor maintenance, installs, repairs

• Winter shut-down and recommissioning work

• General site handling in cold conditions

If you’re winter-proofing an installation, focus on the usual weak spots:

• Exposed pipework on external walls, in sheds and garages, and in roof voids

• Outdoor taps and valves (metal bodies lose heat quickly)

• Low-use outlets where water sits still for long periods

• Drafty areas where wind chill accelerates freezing

A solid winter approach is: insulate what you can, isolate what you don’t need, and drain down external runs where practical. That combination massively reduces the risk of bursts, leaks and emergency repairs when the temperature drops.