Is Your Plumbing Prepared for Winter?

The weather has started to turn, winter is on it’s way and the temperatures are dropping so now is the best time to check that all of your plumbing is in good working order before the winter kicks in and the temperatures plummet. If you are unsure of what to look for then it is a good idea to get a Gas Safe registered engineer to come and complete an inspection of your pluming and fix any issues there may be so come winter everything is in tip top condition and running smoothly.

The first thing you should do is ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to come and service your boiler. This is something that you should do annually in order to keep your boiler in good working order and even prolong its natural lifespan. Any good Gas Safe engineer will carry out the necessary checks and tests on your boiler and fix and issues that may arise. When they are done, they will leave you with a certificate to show that your boiler has been serviced and if there were any faults they will be displayed and also what has been done to rectify them. By getting your boiler serviced before the winter not only can you be sure you’re not going to left without heat and hot water in the middle of the winter, but it can also save you money down the line with emergency repair bills!

The next thing to do is protect your pipes. Any pipes that are not in heated areas of your home should be insulated to help protect them from the freezing temperatures and help the to keep working as they should. If a pipe gets too cold, then it runs the risk of bursting. A burst pipe is not only an issue for the rest of the plumbing in your property, but it could also lead to a hefty repair bill for any water damaged items and structural repairs. Pipe insulation can be bought in most DIY shops and can be easily installed buy yourself, however if you’re not sure what you’re doing or if pipes are in difficult to reach areas then you could always ask you local plumber to come out and insulate your pipes for you. A professional plumber will know what standard of insulation to use and how to install it correctly, they may even recommend re-routing any pipes that are particularly exposed to avoid any potential disasters!

Finally, if you are going on holiday or leaving your home unoccupied for any period of time over the winter months then there are a couple of things you need to remember to do. You need to turn off the water in your home and completely drain the system. You can do this by turning the main water shut off valve, then turn on all the taps in your property starting from the highest floor to the lowest. This will drain any water in the system until eventually all the water has gone. If you leave water in your system when your home is unoccupied during the winter, then your plumbing will be at risk of freezing leading to burst pipes. If you are unsure how to do this or just want to make sure it is done right, then you can call your local plumber to come and do it for you.

If you need to get your plumbing ready for winter, then contact JWC Plumbing & Heating today – 0151 345 4039