There are various products on the market, ranging quite substantially in price. Some are fitted in place permanently, measuring the ambient temperature and delivering heat when needed to keep the pipe from freezing. Or you can simply use good quality foam lagging to cover the exposed pipe and secure it with zip ties.

• Locate the frozen section by feeling with your hands for the coldest part.
• Slowly poor warm water from the kettle over the pipe. Do not use boiling water, as this can crack the pipe – and/or scald you.
• Once the frozen section has cleared, check the manual and restart the boiler. If it does not re start correctly, you will need to call out a gas safe registered boiler engineer.

There are some highly effective draught-proofing products available to do the job, and at a reasonable price. DIY draught proofing of windows, doors and blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards could cost up to £200, but could save up to £40 a year in a draughty home. That might not sound like such a good deal, but you would get your money back in five years or so, and know that you were doing your bit to save the planet at the same time..!

You can also seal skirting boards with decorators chalk, and fit a chimney draught excluder or sealed fire guards without great cost and much benefit. In more than one ways, this will help you to sleep better at night.