As Britain braces for a severe winter cold snap, a leading plumbing expert has issued an urgent warning to households: a simple bottle of washing up liquid could be the key to avoiding a catastrophic and expensive plumbing disaster.
James Anderson, a renowned plumbing and heating specialist, has revealed a startlingly simple trick that could save homeowners thousands of pounds in repair bills. The preventative measure takes just seconds and requires only a common household item found in almost every kitchen.
The £5,000 Problem Hiding in Your Pipes
The threat is very real. When temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside external pipes and drains can solidify, expanding and putting immense pressure on the plumbing. The result? Burst pipes, catastrophic flooding, and repair costs that can easily spiral into the thousands.
"A burst pipe can cause absolute chaos and end up costing you anywhere from £2,500 to £5,000 to fix," warns Anderson. "The damage to your home and belongings from flooding can be devastating."
The 30-Second Solution Sitting in Your Kitchen
The expert's advice is surprisingly straightforward. Anderson urges every household to pour a small amount of washing up liquid down their sink plugholes and outside drains.
Here’s why this bizarre trick works:
- Lowers Freezing Point: The detergent in the washing up liquid actively lowers the freezing point of water.
- Prevents Ice Blockages: This makes it significantly harder for the water in your pipes to turn to ice, even during a deep freeze.
- Costs Pennies: It's an incredibly cheap insurance policy against a potentially enormous bill.
"It's a very cheap way of trying to prevent a big problem," Anderson emphasises. "Just a small capful of washing up liquid could stop your pipes from freezing over."
When Should You Take Action?
Timing is crucial. Anderson advises performing this quick task the night before temperatures are forecast to drop below zero. This gives the detergent time to disperse through the pipes and begin working its preventative magic before the deep cold sets in.
This urgent warning comes as the UK Met Office has issued weather alerts predicting a prolonged period of freezing conditions, with overnight temperatures expected to plummet across much of the country. Don't get caught out—a simple squeeze of washing up liquid might be all that stands between you and a winter nightmare.
