Avoid a Festive Freeze: Winter Plumbing & Heating Checks Before the Holidays

The last thing you want to be dealing with over the festive period is a boiler breakdown or a frozen pipe fiasco. With a few simple checks, you can keep your plumbing and heating in tip top shape throughout the winter, so you can focus on more important things – like wrapping gifts and enjoying a mince pie or two.

You don’t need to be a heating engineer to carry out a few simple checks and upgrades around your home. In fact, learning how to spot the telltale signs that something is amiss with your heating system or plumbing could help you to catch issues early, so you can call in an expert before you have to deal with a full breakdown.

Avoid a festive freeze this winter with these simple steps:

Check the date of your last boiler service

Your boiler should ideally be serviced every year, but these tasks can often fall between the cracks. Regular servicing is helpful whether your boiler is old or new. With older boilers, it can help to keep things ticking over and give you more time before you have to upgrade. With a new boiler, it can allow you to keep your boiler warranty intact. If you can’t remember the last time yours was serviced, it could be a good idea to schedule this before the cold weather arrives.

Look for leaks

Small drips can become much more problematic when the cold weather arrives. Water inside your pipes will expand and contract with the weather, and this can put pressure on valves and connections. If there are small leaks from your pipes, these could cause extensive damage, particularly if you are away during a cold spell and your pipes freeze.

Insulate exposed pipes

Cold spells can be difficult to predict, so it’s far better to address pipe insulation as early as possible. Pipes in your loft, garage, basement and those in external walls are most likely to feel the chill, so make sure these have extra insulation to prevent burst pipes.

Locate your stop cock

You’d be surprised how many people don’t know where the stop cock for their home is located. If you’re dealing with a burst water pipe, the last thing you want is to be Googling “where is my stop cock”. Locate it when you don’t need it so that you’re ready for anything. You should also test it to make sure it is working. If this fails, you’ll need to locate the shut off valve outside of your home.

Bleed your radiators

Want to make sure you stay toasty and warm this winter? You’ll want to make sure your heating system is free from air build up. Air can become trapped in the system and this will make it more difficult for your central heating system to work effectively. All you need for this job is a bleed valve, a bucket and a rag. After you bleed your radiators, you might need to top up the system to restore the right pressure.

Address slow drains

That blockage in your kitchen sink will only get worse as the weather gets colder. Professional cleaning can help to clear your pipes and avoid unpleasant smells all winter long. Remember, you don’t want to pour cooking oil down your drains at any time of year, even if you are running the hot water tap. The hot oil will eventually cool, and this can lead to blockages that can be very difficult to clear.

Replace old radiator valves with thermostatic valves

A thermostatic radiator valve, or TRV, will allow you to customise the temperature in each room, allowing you to take greater control over your heating output. These also offer freeze protection, which will ensure your central heating kicks in and prevents the system from freezing if there is a cold snap while you are away from your home. TRVs can also help you to drive down your central heating costs.

Clear gutters and drains

Outside of the house, a blocked gutter or drain pipe could lead to leaks inside your home if the water isn’t able to drain away easily. You can save yourself the stress of an unexpected leak by making sure these are free from leaves and other blockages after the autumn leaves have fallen.