Irish Water and local authorities nationwide are asking homes and businesses to take some simple steps to avoid damage to pipes and help conserve water during the cold weather.

Freezing conditions can lead to a higher than normal volume of burst pipes. A burst pipe can cause severe damage, while also leading to valuable water being lost.

According to Irish Water, sometimes a small leak can go undetected for weeks, resulting in expensive repair bills and a disrupted water supply.

To avoid this, the utility is asking home and business owners, i.e. farmers with outside water supplies, to take some simple steps to winter-proof their premises over the coming months.

Speaking about preparing for colder weather, Tom Cuddy, head of operations with Irish Water, said: “With temperatures often dipping below zero at this time of year, we are appealing to homes, businesses and those responsible for unoccupied buildings to check for leaks whilst adhering to current public health regulations and advice, and to turn off water where it’s not needed.

“Small efforts by everyone to conserve water wherever possible make a big difference and we would ask the public to only use what they need whilst continuing to adhere to public health advice on hand washing and hygiene regarding Covid-19."

Simple advice on conservation includes e.g. taking showers over baths and fixing dripping taps where it is possible to do so.

If you have a basic knowledge of plumbing, these tips will help you locate and thaw a frozen pipe. If you are unsure of what to do, the utility advises to call a registered plumber.

If the pipe and fittings are not cracked or broken, you can try gently thawing the pipe.

Irish Water says to protect or move anything which might be damaged if the pipe bursts when thawed. Use a hairdryer on the lowest setting to gently warm the pipe, starting at the end nearest the tap.

People are advised to never attempt to thaw out frozen pipes by switching on the immersion, central heating, blow torch etc.

A burst pipe can cause serious damage to your home or building so it is important to take action as soon as possible.

You can make a temporary repair to a burst pipe by binding it tightly with a cloth or tape. However, Irish Water advises to replace this as soon as possible by a permanent repair, carried out by a qualified and registered plumber.

It's important to ensure your hot water system is refilled before you switch back on your immersion or boiler.

To report a leak, contact Irish Water on: 1800 278 278.