Plumber reveals how keeping heating on overnight during cold weather can save you from a £9,000 bill
TEMPERATURES are starting to dip throughout the UK, and it is the worst time of the year to find out you have poor plumbing.
Winter is when you are most likely to see your pipes freeze and they could see you slapped with a costly plumbing bill.
Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show the avegrage cost of a weather-related home insurance claim for burst pipes is a huge £9,300.
However there a quite a few things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing and you don’t need to be a pro to get them sorted.
We’ve spoken to an expert from Checkatrade for the easiest and most affordable ways to protect your pipes and make sure they are in ship shape.
Brett Knowles from BK Plumbing said: “There are a few things you should always check ahead of winter, that will help prevent a pipe freezing.”
Insulating your pipes
Insulating water pipes is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to prevent them from freezing and bursting and could save you a £300 emergency bill.
Experts at Checkatrade recommend you “lag” (cover) exposed pipework.
Homeowners can protect their pipes themselves with a bit of DIY wrap-around wool insulation, prices start from just £25 in B&Q
You should also use this as an opportunity to insulate your hot water cylinder.
At Wickes, you can buy a British Standard jacket for £22.
Brett warned: “Make sure the condensate pipe for the boiler is well insulated too, to prevent this from affecting the boiler from working if the pipe freezes.”
Leaving the heating on all night
As crazy as it sounds another good way to stop your pipes from freezing is to keep your heating on.
Though it will cost you a little more it’s much cheaper than dealing with the cost of fixing a frozen pipe.
A medium temperature of around 18 degrees overnight is recommended by Checkatrade plumbing experts.
They advised: “Keeping interior property doors open to allow airflow through the house.”
“This allows the heat in your home to circulate freely between rooms, you should consider leaving your heating on a constant temperature through the cold days.”
Smart thermostats usually have an anti-frost setting to keep your home heated at the minimal temperature required to stop your pipes from freezing.
Some radiators may also carry the snowflake symbol. Turning the radiator nob to this level will ensure the menial water will flow needed to prevent the pipes from freezing.
Locate your stop-cap in case of emergencies
It’s important to know where your stop-cap is in case of emergencies, as with this you can cut off water supply to the whole house.
Most are located under the kitchen sink but you should check where your is.
The stop-cap is also helpful if you are going away in the winter as you can stop the supply of water and prevent a pipe from freezing when you are not there.
Checkatrade advises: “Turning the valves clockwise will shut off the water supply to the taps.”
“You may need a flathead screwdriver for this task if you are attempting it yourself.”
Aim to get a dripping pipe fixed to prevent water from freezing
If you have a leaky tap you should fix it before temperatures start to drop.
Leaving it unattended only increases the risk of it freezing and causing far more problems later on.
Checkatrade recommends you: “Check around the house for cracked and worn out pipes that may need urgent attention.”
Brett said: “I would always find the isolation valve for the supply to the outside tap, so it can be isolated throughout the winter to prevent it from freezing and bursting.”
Don’t forget to bleed radiators to help get rid of any air pockets inside the unit, and get the hot water flowing through properly.
Get your boiler serviced before it gets cold
You should get your boiler checked regularly around once a year especially ahead of winter according to Checkatrade.
Expect to pay on average £100 for a servicing and always use a Gas Safe Register engineer.
Brett advised: “Definitely make sure your heating is fully working and serviced ready for the winter months.”
A broken boiler is more likely to cost you significantly more in the long run than the cost required to get yours serviced.
And you don’t want to risk being without hot water when you need it most.
Steps to take if a pipe freezes and if a pipe bursts
If a pipe freezes you should aim to slowly heat it to melt the ice and clear the blockage.
You should turn it on and thaw the pipe to encourage water flow. A water towel soaked in warm water or a hair dryer may work for this, but only one on a low setting.
You should never put a naked flame near the pipe and boiling water may cause further damage.
Unlike a frozen pipe, a burst pipe may not be something you can fix on your own.
You can make a start by locating the main internal stopcock.
Brett said: “Make sure you know exactly where the main internal stopcock is, and make sure it works.”
“If not, get this replaced and fixed ASAP to prevent any issues if you get a burst pipe.”
If a pipe bursts you should turn off the water at the stopcock. Turn off all central heating and any other water installation.
Move any furniture or possessions away from the burst pipe and contact your insurer right away.
Many have 24-hour operational helplines.
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