I’m a building expert – four cold weather home checks to make NOW to avoid paying £875

BRITS are battling against an Artic blast covering many parts of the country in snow – and households could be hit by shock costs too.

The cold snap could cause your energy bills to spike or you might have to pay for home emergencies because of the bad weather.

But there are ways to make sure you’re not hit by surprise costs, according to Reid Building Cardiff builder Paul Reid.

A few simple checks, from your boiler and radiator to pipes and drains, could help you avoid an £875 bill.

Check the gutters – £175

Your gutter is vital to prevent water damage to your home.

If it’s covered in snow or ice, then it won’t work properly – and the costs could be big.

It could cause a big damp problem. According to MyJobQuote, the cost of treating damp costs an average of £175.

“Clogged gutters can cause damage to your walls by causing seeping damp and not maintaining your home could also invalidate your home insurance claims too,” Paul said.

Look at your boiler pressure – £300

One of the most common boiler problems is a loss in pressure.

If it doesn’t work properly, then it could drive up your energy bills.

Fail to spot it, and it could mean that your boiler stops working – which not only would be a nightmare in freezing conditions, but costs money too.

According to Checkatrade, the average cost of repairing a boiler is £300.

It’s important to keep checking your boiler pressure to avoid this from happening.

“The correct pressure is indicated by a green zone on the gauge but all boilers are different,” Paul said. 

“If you don’t know the pressure your boiler should be then look inside the manufacturer’s handbook or on their website.”

Bleed your radiators – £100

Are your radiators on, but you can’t feel the heat? You might need to bleed them.

Radiators need to be bled when they have air trapped inside them. 

This is because the air stops warm water from circulating around your radiator. 

Not bleeding them could cause you to crank the heating up.

But turning your thermostat down just one degree could save you £100 a year – so it’s worth checking your radiators to make sure you can cash in on this saving.

Uswitch says there are three steps you need to take.

Firstly, you need to turn your heating on and make sure the radiators are fully heated before doing anything else.

Then, you need to see which radiators need bleeding – check whether there are parts of the radiator which have cool spots.

This means that there could be air trapped inside, stopping the radiator from working properly.

Switch off your heating before doing anything else – otherwise you might burn yourself or soak the floor.

You’ll need a radiator key – available at DIY shops – to attach onto the radiator valve, which is located at the top of the radiator.

Turn the radiator key slowly anti-clockwise and hold a cloth underneath to catch any water.

If you hear a hissing sound, it means the trapped air is escaping – once this stops, close the valve to stop water coming out.

Defrost your pipes – £300

In cold weather, frozen water inside pipes can expand causing them to burst.

It could create a big leak that could damage your home.

Some plumbers offer a flat call-out rate of around £300 for leaking pipe repairs, according to Checkatrade.

But there are ways to stop your pipes from freezing over, Paul explained.

 “If you do find any of your pipes are frozen do not tip boiling water on them as this could cause the pipes to burst,” he said. 

“Instead, get a hot water bottle and rub it on the pipe until it thaws out.”

You can also  protect your pipes from plummeting temperatures by keeping them insulated.

You can buy insulation materials to wrap around your pipes yourself – it’s stocked at most DIY stores.

The extra layer should prevent your pipes getting too chilly.

More checks to make to avoid big bills

Check for boiler leaks.

If you find one, it can indicate a number of things – including low pressure, or it might be old and worn away.

It could also be because there’s a broken part in the boiler, such as a seal or a valve – for this problem, you’ll need an engineer to fully inspect your boiler.

You might think that your thermostat has gone bust if it’s not telling your boiler what to do.

But sometimes, an accidental knock can switch off or change thermostat’s settings – so make sure you double check these.

Your radiators might have “secret sludge” in.

Sludge build-up can often accompany clunking and grumbling noises when your central heating is first switched on.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk