Cold weather forecast: how to protect your home this weekend

The Met Office is forecasting a spell of colder weather across Greater Manchester this weekend, with temperatures expected to drop significantly overnight.

Cold snaps can increase the risk of frozen pipes and boiler issues, particularly when temperatures fall below freezing. We're encouraging customers to take a few simple steps now to help keep their homes warm and avoid common winter problems.

Top tips to prepare for colder weather

Check that pipes in garages, loft spaces and outside areas are insulated where possible.
Keep internal doors open to allow warm air to circulate throughout your home.
Keep your heating on a low setting.
Make sure you know where your stop tap is located in case of an emergency.

Frozen pipes

During freezing weather, water inside pipes can freeze and expand, potentially causing pipes to burst.

Signs of a frozen pipe include:

No water coming from a tap
Reduced water flow
Visible frost on exposed pipework

If you suspect a pipe has frozen, turn off your water supply at the stop tap and carefully warm the pipe using warm (not boiling) water, hot towels or a hot water bottle.

Watch our Quick Fix video for step-by-step guidance on dealing with frozen pipes.

Boiler not working? Check your condensate pipe

If your boiler suddenly stops working during freezing weather, a frozen condensate pipe could be the cause.

Many modern boilers display an error code when this happens. If it's safe to do so, a frozen condensate pipe can often be thawed and reset without the need for an engineer.

Watch our Quick Fix video to learn how to safely thaw a frozen condensate pipe and get your heating and hot water back up and running.

Damp and condensation during colder weather

As temperatures drop, many households keep windows and doors closed to retain heat. While this helps keep homes warm, it can also lead to a build-up of moisture indoors, increasing the risk of condensation, damp and mould.

Simple steps such as using extractor fans when cooking or showering, keeping trickle vents open where possible, and wiping away condensation from windows can help reduce excess moisture in your home.

Our Damp and Condensation Quick Fix video offers practical advice on identifying the causes of condensation and the steps you can take to help prevent damp and mould from developing.

Quick Fix videos

Before reporting a repair, take a look at our series of handy Quick Fix videos.

Specifically for cold weather

Frozen pipes
Frozen boiler condensate pipe
Damp and Condensation

Our videos provide simple, step-by-step guidance that may help resolve common issues quickly and safely.

Need further support?

If you experience an emergency repair, loss of heating or hot water and cannot resolve the issue using the advice above, please contact us as soon as possible on 0161 226 4211

If you need to report a repair that is not urgent, you can do so in the following ways:

Email us at enquiry@msvhousing.co.uk
Fill out the contact us form
Online – MyMSV account. Create a customer account to report and manage repairs.

Stay warm, stay safe and take a few minutes now to prepare your home for the colder weather ahead.