GOING AWAY THIS WINTER? HOW TO AVOID A BURST PIPE
If you are going away over the festive period to visit friends or relatives, or perhaps a skiing holiday in the New Year, what steps should you take to avoid a burst pipe? Timely advice comes from the Heating Helpline.
10 December 2013 – In the coming weeks many families will be away from home whether it’s visiting friends or relatives over the festive period, heading abroad for some winter sun or to the slopes for a skiing holiday.
Such a break could easily coincide with a severe cold snap. And with energy prices at their record levels it will be tempting to save money and switch off the heating while the house is empty. But that might risk arriving back to find a flooded house or flat. Some timely advice from the Heating Helpline on how you can reach a sensible compromise 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 10º C / 50º F.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. Better still is one of the latest generation of ‘smart’ heating controls that mean you can programme your heating via the internet from anywhere and anytime – this means you can also turn up your heating the day before you head home so you don’t return to a cold house.
The Heating Helpline is operated by B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, and provides consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating. 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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