How to Prepare for Bad Weather

The best time to fix problems due to bad weather is before the bad weather arrives! Here are some pre-emptive checks to prevent problems. Read our article for more information on how to prepare for bad weather.

How to Prepare for Bad Weather

Here are our tips to help you prepare for bad weather.

Outside taps

Make sure the outside tap is switched off. If it is running (or even dripping) there is a higher chance that it will freeze. As an extra precaution, it’s possible to turn off the internal stop cock that supplies water to the outside tap.

Outside pipes

As well as taps, if you have external pipes, then they can also freeze and cause problems for your boiler.

Metal Pipes

For metal pipes, you need to make sure that they are lagged. You can pick up pipe insulation from a DIY store, and it’s relatively cheap.

Condensate pipe

The plastic condensate pipe goes from your boiler to outside. You need to either lag it or have it joined onto a 32mm waste pipe to significantly reduce the risk of pipes freezing. If this pipe freezes, it can cause serious issues with your boiler. If it does freeze over and you find out quickly, you can sort it by pouring warm water (not boiling) over the pipe.

What if the pipes burst?

If a pipe bursts you need to take action immediately. The first priority is to turn off the water supply with your main stop-cock. If you have a tank-fed system, you need to turn off the two gate valves on the tank in the loft or airing cupboard.

Gutters

The last thing to keep an eye on in the home is the guttering and downpipes. If the guttering or downpipes are leaking then instead of the water going directly into the drain you will have excess water freezing on your path which could cause a hazard.

LW Heating and Plumbing

Whatever your plumbing and heating needs: from your annual gas service to a brand-new central heating system, our Warrington plumbers can help: call LW Heating and Plumbing services now for more info on one of our local numbers below:-

Plumbers Wigan 01942 417220
Plumbers St Helens 01744 776140
Plumbers Warrington 01925 394260
Plumbers Newton Le Willows 01925 394260