Introduction

Winter can be an especially tough time for many. The last thing you want is to have to deal with any plumbing issues, leaving you left out in the cold.

Freezing pipes, costly repairs, and water damage can be major headaches, but with some proactive measures, you can prevent these issues.

Here are the top ways to protect your plumbing this winter, while ensuring your home remains safe and warm.

1. Insulate exposed pipes

One of the most effective ways to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate any that are exposed to the cold, especially in unheated areas like garages, basements, and attics.

Temperatures drop considerably in winter, and as the mercury struggles to rise, water inside your pipework can easily freeze.

This unexpected freezing can burst pipework and can lead to massive home floods and massive damage to your furniture and the things you love the most.

Pipe insulation foam or heating tape can be applied to these areas to keep the pipes warm and prevent freezing.

Plant-based materials like wood fiber, hemp, and straw are often considered the most environmentally friendly insulation, as they're renewable, require minimal energy to produce, and biodegrade at the end of their life cycle.

2. Let faucets drip

Allowing your faucets to drip slightly can prevent pipes from freezing. While it may seem counterintuitive, a small flow of water can relieve pressure in the system, which is what causes pipes to burst when frozen.

Blockages and pressure building up in your home’s icy pipes make them that much more susceptible to leaking or bursting; as anyone who’s ever had to deal with wet spot knows, even a small trickle of water can lead to weeks of headaches in the form of mould and water damage.

Turning your faucets on keeps the water moving.

And if the water in your pipes does freeze, it can prevent the pipes from bursting by relieving pressure.

When water turns into ice, it expands fairly rapidly, which is going to put a lot of pressure on the rest of the system.

One way to make your drip even more effective is to open up the cabinets that hide the pipes in your bathroom, kitchen, or basement. Letting even a little bit of the room’s ambient heat in can make a big difference for the pipe’s temperature.

One extra little hack from your green plumbing pros:

While your faucets are open, set up cups to catch the drips and dribbles, rather than letting any flow down the drain.

This way, you can use any water that you catch for household chores like watering plants or cleaning, without having to waste any more tap water.

Focus on faucets connected to pipes running along exterior walls or in colder areas of your home.

3. Seal Drafts Around Doors and Windows

Take the time to check around your home for areas where the water supply lines can be found in unheated places and take measures to prevent the flow of cold air into them.

A few examples of spaces like this are basements and cellars, crawl spaces, attics and garages, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

You should look to insulate both hot and cold pipes in these sorts of areas as the hot water supply line can freeze just as easily as the cold one- if the water isn’t running through the pipe and the temperature drops suddenly.

Cold drafts can significantly lower the temperature near your plumbing, especially for pipes located close to doors or windows.

Sealing drafts with weatherstripping or caulking not only keeps your home warmer but also protects your pipes from freezing.

4. Maintain a consistent temperature

During the winter months, ensure that you keep your thermostat set to a temperature above freezing, ensuring that your home always has at least an ambient temperature at which no pipes will freeze.

Even if you're leaving your home for an extended period, keep your thermostat set to a consistent temperature of at least 13°C.

We recommend putting it on a timer so it kicks in at the same time each day.

This ensures that pipes in colder areas stay warm enough to prevent freezing.

Consider using a smart thermostat to monitor and adjust the temperature of your home remotely, which is a popular choice among homeowners for both energy efficiency and convenience.

5. Check your winter heater

Winter time is when your water heater is working overtime.

Ensuring it’s in top shape before the cold weather can help prevent an untimely breakdown.

Flush the heater to remove sediment build-up and check the temperature settings, ensuring they are optimized for energy efficiency without risking scalding.

A power flush is a way of cleaning out all the rust, sludge, and debris that naturally accumulates in your central heating system over time.

By removing dirt and blockages in the pipework, you'll extend the life of your central heating system and make sure it works more efficiently as it heats your home.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had any heating maintenance, feel free to get in touch with us for all your needs.

6. Know where your main water shut- off valve is

In the event that a pipe does burst, you'll need to act quickly to minimize damage. Knowing the location of your main water shut-off valve is crucial.

Shutting off the water supply can prevent flooding and limit costly repairs.

Generally, this is often a tap located under your kitchen sink, but can also be located in other places in older houses, so it's worth getting familiar with the location of this tap.

More homeowners are installing smart water shut-off valves, which can automatically detect leaks and shut off the water supply, helping to prevent major damage before it starts.

If this is something you’re looking into, feel free to give us a call to have us install a brand-new shut- off valve so that you never end up in a plumbing disaster having to deal with leaks and burst pipes.

7. Conduct a comprehensive plumbing inspection

Before winter hits, it’s a good idea to schedule a professional plumbing inspection.

Prevention is always better than cure.

There may be small cracks or leaks in the system that have gone unnoticed or unattended, but the increased use during winter, combined with the more extreme drop in temperature can make minor issues into major problems, turning an annoyance into a plumbing emergency!

Our expert plumbers can identify potential issues such as leaks, cracks, or weaknesses in the system that might lead to frozen pipes or other problems- so that you have absolute peace of mind for you and your family this Winter.

Osman Plumbing& Heating- Your trusted plumber in West London

Osman Plumbing& Heating have been local plumbers across West London for over 18 years, and are privileged to provide exceptional plumbing and emergency services to the local homes and businesses in the area.

No plumbing job is too big or too small, whether it's frozen pipes, dripping taps, running toilet, boiler replacements, heating repairs, or simply an annual boiler service, we are always happy to help!

For all your plumbing needs contact Osman Plumbing& Heating today on 07990 806015.

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