Customers of Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water are being urged to make sure they have complete peace of mind for the worst of the winter weather by labelling their stop tap.
WaterSafe, the UK-wide register of approved plumbers, and Northumbrian Water Group, of which Essex & Suffolk Water is part of, have joined forces this winter with a clear message for customers to “find, check and label” their stop tap.
With temperatures still on the chilly side, and the prospect of more sudden freezes and thaws still to come, special labels are now available for Northumbrian Water Group customers to give their stop tap one final bit of attention.
Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Our winter campaign has urged householders to `find, check and label’ their stop tap – and now it’s time to make sure you have complete peace of mind for potentially the worst of the winter weather to come by labelling it.
“Labelling your stop tap clearly will make it easy to find and ensure that it doesn’t get confused with your hot water valve. Then make sure everyone knows where it is and how to use it.”
If pipes freeze and burst in winter weather, using the stop tap to shut off the water supply quickly can greatly reduce the devastation and cost of damage caused by flooding.
Customers of Northumbrian Water Group can get their free stop tap label – which includes a handy section for the contact details of an emergency WaterSafe-approved plumber – via the winter weather advice page.
Internal stop taps are usually located under the kitchen sink, but can also be found in downstairs bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, garages, cellars and under the stairs.
WaterSafe’s advice supports the water company’s winter weather advice, which encourages everyone to think about what they can do to prepare for and cope with severe weather.
More WaterSafe information on finding and checking your stop tap can be found at watersafe.org.uk/winter.
Find and share winter advice with WaterSafe via Twitter: @WatersafeUK, Facebook: @WaterSafeRegister and Linked in: linkedin.com/company/watersafe
WaterSafe is a central approval register supported by all UK water companies and the seven Approved Contractors’ Schemes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Plumbers approved on the national WaterSafe register all have specific training in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Byelaws, which helps prevent the risk of contamination of drinking water. Using an approved plumber provides peace of mind to those seeking plumbing work. For more information, visit watersafe.org.uk or call 0333 207 9030.