Preparing pipes and drains for winter
Bearing in mind any particular instructions provided to you by the manufacturer of your outdoor water-based appliances, drain all of the water from any pipes servicing these appliances. Antifreeze is not a prerequisite – the chemical can damage pipe lines and has the additional negative of environmental damage.
If you have any hosepipes located in unheated or outdoor zones of your property, drain these and store them in a warmer area of your home. If you have any taps in these areas, close the indoor valves but leave the outdoor ones open; this will allow the water to expand safely thanks to the lack of pressurisation.
Repair leakages
At the end of summer it pays to take a trip around your property, inspecting while taps or amenities are flowing, to see if there are any leakages in your property. If you find any, patch them up using a patch kit. If the pipe services your heating or water mains, you should use the services of a professional – repairing these with DIY kits can be dangerous.
Latent heating
One of the easiest ways you can prevent frost damage in your home, especially if you have undertaken the previous steps but still want to err on the side of caution, is to keep your heating on at a low level throughout the winter months. This actually shouldn’t result in a higher heating bill as stop-start periods of heating and sudden cooling will require more energy than a steady, lukewarm state.
Be draught-aware
Small gaps between masonry or under doorways – particularly in the garage – can quickly cool down and freeze any at-risk pipes in the home. Plug these up using insulation, wood or plastic, although don’t extend this to any exterior vents such as those connected to the heating system unless you don’t plan on using said appliance over the winter.
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