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Christmas Plumbing Emergencies: How to Stay Prepared
Christmas is a time for family, celebration, and relaxation—not dealing with burst pipes or a broken boiler. Yet the festive season puts extra strain on your plumbing systems, making emergencies more common just when you need them least. Here's how to protect your Yeovil home and what to do if disaster strikes.
Why Christmas is Peak Time for Plumbing Problems
Extra Guests Mean Extra Strain
More people in your home means more showers, more toilet flushes, and more washing up. This additional load can expose weaknesses in your plumbing system.
Freezing Temperatures
Cold snaps are common during the Christmas period. Unprotected pipes in lofts, garages, and external walls are at risk of freezing and bursting.
Boiler Working Overtime
Your heating system works hardest when it's coldest outside. Without regular servicing, this is when boilers are most likely to fail.
Preventing Christmas Plumbing Disasters
- Service your boiler before December – Annual servicing catches problems before the busy season
- Insulate exposed pipes – Particularly in lofts, garages, and external walls
- Know your stopcock location – Everyone in the household should know where it is
- Keep heating on low when away – Even if visiting family, maintain some warmth to prevent freezing
- Don't pour fats down the drain – Christmas cooking generates lots of grease that blocks drains
- Check your radiators bleed properly – Ensure your heating system is efficient before the cold sets in
Common Christmas Plumbing Emergencies
Frozen and Burst Pipes
The most common winter emergency. If you suspect a frozen pipe, never apply direct heat. Call a professional immediately.
Boiler Breakdowns
Nothing ruins Christmas faster than no heating or hot water. Regular servicing is the best prevention.
Blocked Drains
Turkey fat, food scraps, and increased usage combine to cause blockages at the worst possible time.
What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency
- Turn off the water – Locate your stopcock and turn it clockwise to shut off the water supply
- Turn off the heating – If you have a leak near electrical fittings, switch off the power
- Drain the system – Open cold taps to drain remaining water and reduce damage
- Contain the damage – Place buckets under leaks and move valuables away from water
- Call a professional – Contact an emergency plumber who can respond quickly
From all of us at Chris Letts Plumbing, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you won't need our emergency services this festive season, but rest assured we're here 24/7 if you do. Thank you for your continued support throughout 2024!
24/7 Emergency Plumbing This Christmas
Don't let a plumbing emergency ruin your Christmas. Chris Letts Plumbing offers 24/7 emergency cover throughout Yeovil and the surrounding areas—even on Christmas Day.
Our Services
Christmas Service
- 24/7 Emergency Response
- Gas Safe Registered
- Available Christmas Day