British Gas has issued a stark warning to UK households about the risk of frozen and burst pipes as Storm Goretti batters the country with snow, ice and plunging temperatures.
The extreme winter weather, described by the Met Office as a multi-hazard storm with heavy snowfall, blizzards and gales, is already causing widespread disruption and travel chaos across Britain.
How Storm Goretti is Hitting the UK
Storm Goretti has brought:
Heavy snowfall — up to 20–30 cm in parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England.
Sub-zero temperatures, dipping as low as -12.5°C in some areas.
Ice and severe wind warnings, with yellow, amber and even rare red alerts issued by the Met Office, especially across south-west England.
Such bitter conditions make water pipes highly vulnerable to freezing and even bursting — a scenario that could leave households without heating or hot water at the worst possible time.
British Gas’ Frozen Pipes Warning
British Gas, one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers, has urged millions of customers to take simple precautions to avoid pipe damage and loss of heating.
It’s forecasting tens of thousands of service call-outs this week as the cold snap bites.
Key advice includes:
Check for frozen pipes regularly during prolonged cold.
Look out for burst pipes — sudden drops in boiler pressure, visible damp patches or no water flow — and turn off the stopcock immediately if a burst is suspected.
Inspect boiler pressure — ideally between about 1 – 1.5 bar — and ensure settings and timers are correct after possible power interruptions.
If a condensate pipe freezes (a common issue on modern boilers), warm (not boiling) water or a hot water bottle can be used to carefully thaw it before resetting the system.
Calling British Gas before 11 am often means an engineer can be sent out the same day to fix heating or plumbing problems.
Why This Matters
Frozen pipes aren’t just an inconvenience — they can completely cut off heating and hot water during extreme cold weather, causing additional costs and risks to households, especially the elderly or vulnerable.
British Gas expects around 60,000 call-outs this week alone to help customers facing these problems.
Last winter, the company dealt with more than 1.2 million heating and boiler issues during a long cold snap, underlining just how much pressure severe weather places on home energy systems.
How Homeowners Can Help Prevent Problems
Experts and utility firms across the UK are echoing British Gas’ guidance:
Insulate exposed pipes and taps, especially in lofts, garages and outside walls.
Keep homes heated at a base level — even a low temperature can prevent freezing.
Leave internal doors open to circulate warm air around plumbing.
Given the multi-hazard nature of Storm Goretti — snow, ice, wind and plummeting temperatures — being prepared can make all the difference between a warm home and a costly emergency repair.
