During the winter season, the drop in temperature can cause major issues with your plumbing, such as leaking or burst water pipes. As the temperature drops lower and lower, the risk of leaking and burst pipes becomes higher and higher. The reason behind this is that when water starts to freeze, it expands which can lead to the pipe splitting causing it to leak or much it can burst. And we all know how damaging water can be. Even a minor leak can cause considerable damage if it is not stopped quickly.
One way to protect the pipes in your home is to make sure you have the thermostat set to the Frost Protect function. This will make sure the boiler switches on when the temperature drops to a level that could possibly freeze the water in the pipes. If your current thermostat doesn’t have this function then it is recommended that you upgrade to a newer model.
Another way to protect your plumbing is to insulate the pipework. External pipes or pipework in an unheated area such as a garage, basement or loft are at a higher risk of freezing so by lagging them with insulation it will protect them from the cold. Lagging will also help to keep the pipes warmer making them more energy efficient for your central heating system saving you money on heating bills.
It is advisable to do a regular check on the stop tap as the last thing you need when you have a burst water pipe is a stop tap that you can’t switch off. Also make the people in the household aware of the location of the stop tap as this is the first place you go when you have a leak.
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