How to Prevent Freezing Pipes This Christmas
Homeowners heading away this festive season are being urged to take precautions to prevent their pipes from freezing over while they’re away.
The bathroom experts at Vidalux.co.uk are reminding households that pipes, especially those in unheated areas of the home, can often freeze in the winter due to the cold weather.
A frozen pipe can cost around £200 to fix* and leave the home without water and heating for days until the issue is resolved.
The experts are advising people to leave taps dripping slightly and setting the thermostat on low to prevent coming home to frozen or burst pipes.
Andy Ellis from Vidalux.co.uk said: “Frozen pipes can be a common problem in the winter when temperatures hit below freezing. This is mainly a problem for exterior pipes and ones that aren’t near a source of heat like in the garage or loft.
“If you’re going away over the Christmas period then the chances of your pipes freezing increase. This is because you won’t be at home using the heating or running the water to keep the pipes in use.
“There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening so you don’t have to come home to a costly repair.
Setting the thermostat on a low and consistent temperature is something that a lot of people do because it can be more efficient for the home, this should also prevent pipes from freezing.
“You can also keep the taps on ever so slightly so that a slight drip of water is flowing through the pipes.”
How to prevent pipes freezing while you’re away:
Set your thermostat
Most of us have our thermostat set around 19°C and many turn them off when they’re away. This can damage your thermostat and use up more energy over time. Consider setting it between 12°C – 15°C while you’re away instead. This will prevent your pipes from freezing and will save energy.
Insulate pipes
Insulate pipes in your home that are in unheated areas such as attics and exterior walls. Pipe insulation will prevent them from freezing and even bursting in the cold weather. They can also help reduce heat loss, making your home more efficient in the long run.
Leave faucets dripping
If you’re only away for a couple of days, consider leaving the faucets dripping ever so slightly with cold water. Even this small movement of water through the pipes can prevent them from freezing. This may seem like a waste of water but a very slightly higher water bill will be cheaper than fixing burst and frozen pipes.
Ask a trusted neighbour
If you’re away for a longer period of time and don’t want to leave your faucets running, ask a trusted neighbour, family member or friend to pop in and quickly run the taps every couple of days.
Leave cabinets open
Cabinets can get cold if they’re on an exterior wall that’s not well insulated. Leave kitchen and bathroom cabinets open while you’re away to allow warm airflow to reach the pipes.
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