Most winter call-outs start with a job that could have been done in autumn: an outside tap left full of water, a pipe in an unheated space with no insulation, or a garden light that stopped working just as the evenings drew in. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in North Woolwich as part of its documented E16 coverage, covering plumbing, electrical work, decorating and handyman repairs. Below is a practical list of what to check before the cold weather, and what to do if a pipe does freeze.
Before the first frost: a short checklist
| Check | Why it matters | If it needs work |
|---|---|---|
| Find your stop tap and make sure it turns | It is the fastest way to limit damage if a pipe bursts. A stiff or seized valve is far easier to deal with now than during a leak. | Plumbing |
| Insulate exposed pipes in lofts, garages, under floors and outside | Pipes in unheated spaces are the ones most likely to freeze and split. | Plumbing |
| Turn off and drain outside taps | Water left in an outside tap and its pipe can freeze and crack the fitting. This needs an isolating valve inside the property. | Plumbing, if there is no isolating valve |
| Fix dripping taps and toilets that keep running | They waste water, which costs more if you are on a meter, and a slow drip can freeze in an exposed pipe. | Plumbing |
| Test outdoor and security lights | Paths, doors and bins are used in the dark for more of the day through winter. | Outdoor and security lighting |
| Ease sticking doors and fix loose handles, catches and letterbox flaps | Doors that do not close properly let in draughts and can be hard to lock. | Handyman and property maintenance |
Thames Water’s winter advice includes the same basics: insulate pipes, including outdoor and garden pipework, know where your stop tap is, fix leaks promptly, and check that your home insurance covers damage from burst pipes.
Outside electrics in wet weather
Electrical Safety First advises using a residual current device (RCD) with all outdoor electrical equipment, and a plug-in RCD if there is not one in your consumer unit. It also recommends only using extension leads and connectors made for outdoor use. If you regularly run a lead out of a window or door for garden lights or tools, a properly installed outdoor socket is usually the safer long-term answer. That, along with faulty external lights and circuits that trip in wet weather, comes under electrical services.
If you live in a flat, lighting on balconies, walkways and communal entrances is usually the building’s responsibility, so report faults there to the managing agent or landlord.
If a pipe freezes
A tap that slows to a trickle or stops during a cold snap often means a frozen pipe. Thames Water’s frozen or burst pipes guidance recommends turning off the stop tap, then thawing the pipe slowly with a wrapped hot water bottle or warm towels, never a naked flame. Open the tap so water can escape as it thaws, and check the pipe for leaks before turning the water back on.
If the pipe has burst, turn off the stop tap, open the taps to drain the system and contain the water with towels. If water has reached any electrics, switch off the power at the consumer unit only if you can reach it safely without touching anything wet, and keep away from wet sockets and switches. Our burst pipe repair page explains what the repair involves. Water that you cannot stop, or electrics affected by a leak outside standard hours, are situations for an out-of-hours emergency call-out, which is priced differently from standard-hours work.
Once the leak is fixed and everything has dried out, stained ceilings and walls can be put right through painting and decorating.
What we do not cover
Boiler servicing, heating repairs and other gas work are not among the services Voltify Contractors lists. Autumn is a good time to book a boiler service with a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the plumbing, electrical and handyman jobs above can be arranged separately.
Arranging winter jobs in North Woolwich
Standard working hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday, with a documented standard minimum call-out of £80 for the first hour. Several checklist items can often be done in one visit, so list everything when you get in touch; the final price depends on the work, materials and time involved. Call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk.
North Woolwich is one of the E16 areas Voltify Contractors covers, along with Silvertown and the Royal Docks. The full list is on the areas we cover page, and every service category is on our services page.
