Winter can be hard on us and even harder on our plumbing. If you want to avoid calling out an emergency plumber this cold season, it’s important to take control of your home and learn how to prevent plumbing problems this winter. Here are some steps you can take, as advised by a Dartford plumber…
Protect Your Pipes and Use Them
The first step to preventing plumbing problems this winter is to protect your plumbing from the outside. External pipes are open to the elements and the elements are cold! Before the temperature drops too far, ensure your pipes are covered and insulated. You can find foam tubes at your local home improvement and hardware store.
It is also important to use your pipes. If they’re not used, leftover water can freeze and block the pipes. The easiest way to avoid ice inside the pipes is to run water through all the taps a few times a day.
Adjust and Keep an Eye on Your Boiler
Your boiler tends to work overtime during the winter months to heat your water and your home. Because you are using it more than in the spring and summer months, it is more prone to errors. Keep an eye on your boiler pressure (the optimum pressure is between 1 and 1.5 and the boiler will stop working when the pressure is below 0.5). Without hot water in the pipes, they are more prone to freezing.
Keep Your Drains Clean
It is always important to be careful with what you are putting down your drains but even more so during the winter. Grease solidifies in your drains and pipes so be especially careful in the kitchen – limit how much oil goes down the drain, and in the bathroom – conditioner and hair can create blockages that are not easy to remove when they are left for too long. If you suspect a drain blockage, be sure to purchase a drain cleaner during your next supermarket shop!
A Dartford Plumber’s Tips and Tricks
There are a few more tips and tricks you can try to prevent plumbing problems this winter. Be sure to cut off all water that flows to outdoor taps. You probably won’t be needing the garden hose anyway, and leaving it connected can freeze the connecting pipes so be sure to disconnect it from the house. It’s also important to keep the house warm, even when you are away. If you’re taking a winter holiday, you don’t have to leave the heating on the whole time but just enough to maintain warm pipes. Opening cupboard doors to where pipes are can ensure the central heating reaches the pipes.
As an experienced plumber and heating engineer in Dartford, we have seen nearly all that can go wrong in the winter! With these simple changes and preventative methods, you can ensure a warm and comfortable winter – and avoid a call to an emergency plumber!