How to avoid having frozen and burst pipes
It is always a good idea to properly insulate cold water tanks and lag pipework especially if they are located in the loft space, garages or pipes located underneath the floors, making sure there are no visible gaps at pipe bends, service valves or pipe fittings. It’s important to check the insulation in any buildings or properties likely to be unoccupied for long periods of time especially through the winter months when it is normally colder. You can usually find insulation and lagging materials from all good DIY stores, plumbing suppliers or builders merchants.
Turn off any unused water supplies
Turn off any outside water taps. i.e: garden hose, outside tap, pond feeds. Try and stop draughts from outside by using draught excluders and close all doors and windows to colder parts of the property. If you have tanks or pipework with no visible lagging in the roof space, open the loft hatch to allow hot air to circulate through the loft space. Leave the heating on low (or frost protection) if you go away on holiday and get a neighbour to regularly check the property to make sure things are as they should be. Keep a supply of drinking water for emergencies if they should happen. If a property or home is going to be unoccupied for a long period of time, turn off the water at the stopcock and you should also consider draining down the central heating system so there is no water left in the pipes.