AWAY FROM HOME THIS WINTER? TAKE STEPS TO AVOID A BURST WATER PIPE
If you are going away over the festive period to visit friends or relatives, heading off to some winter sun or perhaps a skiing holiday, what steps should you take to avoid a burst water pipe? Timely advice comes from B&ES (the Building & Engineering Services Association), who operate Heating Helpline, the free consumer advice service.
11 December 2014 – In the coming weeks many families will leave their home for an extended period, whether to visit friends or relatives over the festive period, heading abroad for some winter sun or to the slopes for a skiing holiday.
Such a spell away from home might easily coincide with a severe cold snap and sub zero temperatures. And with persistently high energy prices it will be tempting to save money and switch off the heating while the house is empty. But do that and you could risk arriving back to find a flooded house or flat. Some timely advice comes from B&ES (the Building & Engineering Services Association), who operate Heating Helpline, the free consumer advice service, and it will help you strike the right balance between keeping bills down and avoiding a burst pipe.
- Don’t be tempted to turn off your heating altogether; cold weather can wreak havoc on water pipes so it’s best to keep your heating on low – around 10ºC / 50ºF.
- If you haven’t already got one, consider having a programmable thermostat fitted; these give you complete control over your heating and usually have a holiday setting.
- Make sure all water pipes in the loft are insulated with preformed insulation.
- Replace washers on dripping taps because if the taps freeze the pipe will become blocked.
- If you’re leaving house keys with a friend or neighbour make sure they know where your inside stop valve is and check that it is working. They will need to get to it quickly if a pipe has burst.
- Leave the loft door open to let the heat from downstairs circulate into the attic.
- Insulate outside taps or turn them off at the stop tap, or drain them before you go away.
- Fix any dripping taps or overflows; a build-up of ice can cause a blockage.
The Heating Helpline provides consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating and energy saving. For more information contact the Heating Helpline on 0800 810 8303 or visit their website: http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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