There are several steps you can take to keep your plumbing in good condition to prevent a winter home heating disaster. The cold spell can throw up a wide range of problems with your plumbing and home heating, and you don’t take action before the temperature drops you could be met with problems like blocked drains and frozen pipework. Let’s take a look at some of the most important tips for keeping your plumbing in a winter-ready state right now.
Prevent your pipework from freezing
There is a big chance your pipework could freeze once the temperature starts dropping. Once freezing occurs, cracking and bursting become much more likely. These can cause a flood to occur. However, if you keep your heating on at a consistent low temperature, they will always stay heated.
Insulate your pipework
Insulating your pipes can also stop them from freezing. There are multiple solutions you can use to prevent freezing, and these include insulating tape and foam padding. It’s also wise to carry out regular checks on your pipes to see if frost or ice are present.
Get your guttering unblocked
Ice may form if debris and leaves have started gathering in your gutter. Once this ice forms, your guttering could become vulnerable to breakages. This is why it’s important to have this debris removed before the temperature falls.
Avoid blocking your drains
Certain items can make your drains become blocked rather quickly and these include oils, grease and tough objects that don’t break down easily. These can all block your pipes, cause unpleasant aromas and back up your pipes.
Get your water heater drained
Some people live in locations with hard water. If you have this problem, sediment could be building up inside your tank, which could start to rust. By draining your water heater, you can remove this sediment. If you have an older water heater and it’s proving very difficult to remove rust from it, consider purchasing a new one.
Seal your rim joists
Rim joists often allow cold air to seep through. However, you can seal holes and cracks with expandable form.
Find out where your stop valve is
It’s important to locate your stop valve so you can switch it off when you need to. It’s best to make sure it’s working properly before the cold weather strikes.
Book your boiler in for servicing
It’s vital that your boiler is serviced annually. This ensures it’s performing as well as it should be and makes it less likely that your system will break down in the winter.
How Ability can help
If you have a problem with your home heating system, the best thing to do is to call Ability as soon as you can. We have years of experience in this area and can be counted on to put things right wherever possible. If you do need to get in touch with us about your heating and plumbing, you can do so today by completing the form on the website or by calling us on 01892 514495. Alternatively, you can send an email on info@ability.uk.com.
