British Gas has issued advice to people across the UK on how to fix frozen pipes in their homes.
This week, temperatures plummeted to as low as -17 degrees and snowfall and ice has wreaked havoc on transport, with Shetland experiencing severe power outages.
READ MORE - Amber weather warning in West Lothian as heavy snow falls overnight across central belt
It's more important than ever to stay warm at home, but the sub-zero temperatures may mean your heating and hot water has stopped all of a sudden due to freezing water blocking the pipes report the Record.
If you're experiencing this, you may not need to fork out for a specialist to come and fix it - because British Gas has provided a step-by-step guide on how to tackle the problem yourself.
It's important to act quickly if you've got frozen or burst pipes, so these tips could save you time and money as you won't have to wait for an engineer to come out.
1. Look for the warning signs
Before your pipes freeze over, there are a couple of things that could happen which are telltale signs.
First, your central heating could be making a 'gurgling' noise, your boiler won't switch on, or your taps produce little or no water.
A clogged sink could also be a sign of frozen pipes, as well as your toilet flushing more slowly than normal.
2. Identify the frozen pipe
Next, it's time to actually find the pipe that's causing the problem.
British Gas says that this is often the condensate pipe, which is the one that goes from your boiler through the wall and to the outside of your home.
3. Clear the blockage
To thaw out the inside of the pipe, you should prepare some hot - not boiling - water.
By going outside and pouring it over the affected area, it should hopefully melt the ice and get the water running back to normal again. You can also do this with a hot water bottle, by placing it over the pipe.
British Gas says that any pipe exposed to the cold could be the culprit, but you should check pipes in other places too like in the attic or basement.
If you've booked an appointment to get it fixed but have managed to solve the problem yourself, don't forget to cancel so that the engineers can get out and help as many other people as possible.
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