With some of the coldest temperatures this decade predicted this winter, Northumbrian Water says frozen pipes are much more likely – potentially leaving businesses without hot running water and facing a hefty repair bill.

To prepare, the utility company is asking farmers to isolate unused troughs, check for leaks in above-ground pipework, especially in cold areas that are not insulated.

Jim Howey, head of water networks north, said: “We’d urge customers to check the pipework within their boundaries, which is their responsibility, and to do what they can to protect it from freezing or bursting this winter.

“With winter a tough time for everyone, we want to make it as stress-free as possible by giving our top tips on how to avoid unnecessary costs.”

NFU national water resources adviser, Paul Hammett, said: “We welcome this campaign and encourage members to routinely check their pipes and bills. Undetected leaks can be a real issue for farms and prove costly as well.

“We also suggest having plans in place so everyone knows how to respond to water supply interruption or a significant drop in pressure.”

•   Map out all the pipes on the farm
•   Label and regularly check stop taps and valves
•   Check the pipes to remote troughs
•   Fix dripping taps and faulty washers
•   Insulate exposed pipes, cisterns, tanks, taps and water meters
•   Isolate and where possible, drain pipework in unheated buildings during prolonged cold snaps
•   For pipework to or through unheated buildings, protect it from draughts and ensure it is well lagged and does not freeze/burst. Consider trace heating
•   If possible, isolate any outside taps and drain any associated hoses
•   Have a selection of key spares to hand: ball valves, isolation valves, pipework and joints

For more information visit the Northumbrian Water website