Our plumbing tips for getting and staying ready for the winter freeze
Here is what we need you to do. Get up from the sofa and have a look outside your window. Do you see it? The snow? Well, winter is officially upon us.
With everything happening in the UK at the minute with lockdown, COVID-19 restrictions, vaccinations and generally feeling like we’re all living in a never-ending movie. It’s no surprise that some of us may have just forgotten to get our home plumbing and pipework prepared for the ice, snow and sometimes icy snow!
Firstly, there is absolutely no need to panic! We are here to help you take the correct steps to prevent damage – it’s never too late. Well, I guess that isn’t 100% true with plumbing and heating, but let’s try and stay optimistic, shall we?
What is important to understand is that your home has a lot of external pipework as well as the pipes inside. External pipes can be exposed to all of those winter conditions that keep us indoors with the central heating cranked up high! So, if you would like to make sure your home plumbing system stays in perfect condition this year, then keep reading.
Here are some tips to help keep your humble abode in tip-top shape.
Drain and Shut Off Outdoor Taps
The water may not be coming out of your external tap, but it can still be sat in the entrance of the tap in case it is turned on. As the temperatures drop, the water can freeze up inside the tap. Once this happens, it can back up into your home and cause a cracked or burst pipe.
NB: If you suffer from any leaky taps or valves, be sure to repair them to prevent frost damage and to save water.
Check your Stop Tap
Perform regular checks on your stop tap and make sure it is working. This is essential if you need to turn off your water in an emergency – such as a burst pipe.
Put Away your Hose
If you use any hoses, please make sure they are disconnected. In the summer months you use your hose for recreational reasons such as plant watering etc. Then you leave them still attached to the wall. This is a big plumbing mistake! Although the water supplies to the hose has stopped, water will still trickle through or could be present in the hose. In the winter months this will freeze and could cause pressure build up.
Run your Taps
We realise this is something homeowners don’t want to do as it seems like a waste and will cost them on their water bills. However, the cost of running your water for 2 minutes, is considerably less than having to do work due to plumbing issues. Not running your taps can cause a build-up of pressure in the pipework. You can reduce this just by running your taps, both hot or cold for a couple of minutes a day.
Open your Kitchen Cabinets – Especially Where you have Pipes
Your kitchen cabinets along with some restricted parts of the kitchen don’t always get heat. Just by opening your cupboards every now and again, you allow some warmth into underneath your kitchen sink and that can help warm the pipework up.
This works extremely well because it’s a subtle persistent heat and it can help keep your pipework at a steady temperature.
Get a Smart Meter
In winter, you will use your heating more, which means your boiler will be putting in an extra shift or two. It’s vital that you keep track of your spending to not go overboard on the price of your energy bills. Smart Meters can help do just that. By keeping an eye on your usage and prices, you will be able to tell quite easily if you need some repairs done. Sometimes high bills are indicative of some issues you may be unaware you have.
Thanks for stopping by our blog. Remember, if you need help this winter, please do contact us. We’re always here to help you.
