As the weather gets colder, it is important that you protect your water supply to prevent any plumbing problems, damage and expenses. From insulating your pipes to stopping any draughts; we have included 5 simple precautions that can be taken in order to avoid costly plumbing expenses this winter.

1. Insulate pipes and water tank

By ensuring that both your pipes and water tank are insulated, your pipes can stand the test of colder weather. Pipes can be protected using molded lengths of insulation foam, and are often used to replace the less effective wool matting often found wrapped around pipes. Loft pipes are more susceptible to damage, due to it generally being the coldest area of a property.  In terms of cold water tanks, the sides and top can easily be wrapped in an insulating jacket.

2. Fix any leaks or drips

Although this may sound like an obvious and straight forward thing to do, it is something many often leave, resulting in a build up of water freezing and blocking your pipes. By fixing any leaks or drips you may have, you can prevent costly plumbing repairs in the long run.

3. Stop any draughts

Look around your home and note any gaps in your doors and windows. Be sure to cover any you find, as the cold air from outside will freeze indoor pipes, with wind also increasing the risk of blocked or frozen pipes due to it penetrating roof spaces and air bricks.

4. Check outdoor taps

Outdoor taps are the most vulnerable as the colder season approaches. Simple steps that can be taken include turning off any valves, draining down the taps and pipes and refraining from leaving a hose attached to the outside taps.

5. Check your stop tap

It is important that you are aware of the location of your stop tap, in order to check that it works, and that it can be turned off quickly if needed. If your pipes do freeze and you lose your water supply, you are likely to suffer from a burst pipe. That means you will need to turn your water off. In addition to this, if you are leaving your property for a few days during the winter, it is advisable to turn off your water at the stop tap.

It is always important to know which pipes are your responsibility. If you believe that you have frozen pipes that are not your responsibility, then make sure you contact your water supplier for more information. If you have tried these steps with no prevail, don’t try fixing it yourself, this could lead to further damage and is not safe. Instead, always be sure to use a reputable plumbing company that can be there for you should an emergency arise.

Image from Telegraph