To best prepare your home for winter, you will want to make sure that your plumbing is in its best possible condition. The cold weather can cause a number of issues with your plumbing, such as blocked and frozen pipes, which can be a headache to fix and prevent you from having access to running water. Simple solutions such as fixing leaky taps and cleaning gutters will ensure your plumbing systems operate correctly throughout winter. Allow us to offer some more tips to help you prepare for a cold winter.
Fix dripping taps
You may notice some of the taps around your home constantly dripping. This is not only irritating, but it can also cause bigger problems to your plumbing. Leaving your taps to drip all day and night can eventually cause your pipes to freeze over if temperatures drop low enough. If you notice a dripping tap, it is worthwhile to get it sorted immediately and call a qualified plumber to correct this. You will not want to worry about pipes freezing over during the coldest months of the year.
Clean your gutters
As the winter weather takes hold, these windy and rainy conditions can cause leaves and other debris to be blown into your gutters. They can easily create a blockage and prevent water from properly draining from your gutters. This creates the perfect conditions for moss growth and encourages animals to create a habitat out of your gutters. Your gutters could also break under the weight of this excess water. It is important to check your gutters regularly, and make sure there are no potential blockages developing. This can help your plumbing and water system to run smoothly throughout winter.
Disconnect hoses
Over the winter, its likely that you won’t need to be tending to your garden as much as usual. Your plants will receive plenty of water as a result of the rainy conditions. This means that they will not be relying on your hosepipe as much, so there is no need to have it connected throughout the winter months. If you leave your hoses connected for the duration of winter, it is possible that the water inside them will turn to ice. This can cause pressure to build and potentially even burst your pipes. A simple tap cover can prevent this from becoming a risk.
Insulate your home
Not only will keeping your home properly insulated allow you to keep your home warmer for longer, it can also have a benefit on your plumbing system. A warmer home provides a more suitable environment for your pipes. If parts of your home become particularly cold, your pipes could freeze over or burst, so proper insulation is essential.
Check your home early
It is worth carrying out these checks before winter fully kicks in, so that you can make sure the cold weather hasn’t had the chance to take full effect. To avoid frozen or burst pipes and clogged gutters, you should begin to check your home as soon as possible.
If you are having problems with your plumbing over the winter months, you will want to call in professionally trained plumbers to resolve them. Our team at Platinum Plumbers can offer their assistance, with comprehensive plumbing services to provide you with a helping hand when you need it most. To get booked in with our experts, call now on 020 8855 0361 or email . A member of our team will be happy to help.
