AVOID THOSE FROZEN PIPES
Leaks and burst pipes can cause untold damage to a property especially if they go unnoticed for any long periods of time like a holiday break. To reduce the risk of external / internal water pipes from freezing and leaving you with a expensive clean up bill please read the following tips :-
Any water pipes hot or cold, copper or plastic that are outside your home should be insulated against the risk of freezing using pipe insulation which is available in most DIY stores, plumbers and builders merchants, it comes in various sizes to suit most pipework.
Don’t forget to insulate pipes that may run through your garage.
Pipes in lofts are more susceptible to freezing temperatures as modern loft insulation lets very little warm air into the loft during the winter months so insulate them.
Pipe insulation can be held in place using ty-raps or insulation tape.
If you go on holiday during a cold spell, leave your heating on low, doors open to allow warm air to circulate and the loft hatch open. Even internal pipes fixed on an external wall can freeze.
During winter, hosepipes should be disconnected from external taps and stored, if the external tap has an isolating valve inside as most of the ‘kit’ versions do, turn it off and leave the external tap open allowing any water to drain off.
If you discover any frozen pipes turn the stop tap off and providing the pipe appears undamaged thaw it out. A hairdryer or cloths / towels soaked in hot water are two methods for thawing frozen pipes. Do not use a blowlamp as the water may boil and the pipe may explode. When you think the pipe has thawed, turn the stop tap back on at reduced pressure and check for leaks.