Translating…
With the winter months quickly creeping up, many homeowners would have noticed the changing weather and the cold spells starting to set in. It is important when temperatures fall to prepare the home for the inevitable change in seasons and ensure the home’s plumbing is protected from the cold.
The following top tips have been put together for homeowners to help them avoid a burst or frozen pipe this winter.
As the temperature drops, many people go away to the southern hemisphere for a bit of winter sun which results in homes being left for long periods of time during the holiday period. Unfortunately for homeowners, this is often the period of time that the elements can do the most extensive damage to your home.
Why are pipes more prone to damage during the winter?
Pipes are more prone to damage during winter due to sudden severe drops in temperature along with having to battle the changing weather. This puts the home’s drainage and heating systems under extreme levels of pressure, especially any systems which are full of water such as pipes, water tanks and valves. This water turns to ice when temperatures fall suddenly and expands within whatever it is contained in.
If for any reason water starts to leak out of these containers, it can cause serious damage to that area within the home. Furthermore, if this leak occurred whilst the home was inhabited and the leak was allowed to continue, imagine the level of extensive damage that would happen.
How can I winter-proof my home’s pipes?
By taking these simple precautions homeowners can rest assured that they have done as much as they can to protect their home during the colder seasons.
1. If you are going away for any period of time during the winter months then it is probably best to guarantee your home is protected by asking a friend, relative or neighbor to pop in and ensure everything is running OK.
2. Make sure whilst away from your home that you set your central heating system to come on at regular intervals during the day (usually two) for at least 15 minutes per session. This will certify that you have a steady water flow throughout; stopping the water freezing and avoiding any damage to your pipes.
It is tempting to keep your heating off to save money and resources but throughout the colder months, even when you’re not away, you should try to have your heating on for short periods on a low temperature setting.
3. If you are lucky enough to be going away for a long period of time, it is probably best to completely drain your system so there is nothing in your pipes to cause any damage.
4. It is a good idea to check all of your taps regularly; if you have any taps that are dripping then repair them as quickly as possible to avoid them getting blocked by frozen water. However, some of your taps may already be blocked; you will be able to identify this by simply turning them on and seeing no water or very little water flow.
To thaw out your pipes you need to turn off the water at the mains and then use a hot water bottle or a hairdryer on a low setting to unfreeze the water in the pipe. Note that if you use too much heat too quickly it may cause the pipe or tap in question to react by cracking.
5. Lastly, ensure your pipes and water systems are lagged which (in layman’s terms) means ensuring they are thermally insulated during the cold spells.