The tans are fading, lazy summer days are a distant memory, the children are back to school and those cold winter months are now just around the corner. Winter 2016 is predicted to see more snow days than last year here in the UK, as it starts mild but ends on a cold note. February is expected to be the coldest month, bringing a great deal of frost and fog. In these times all everyone wishes for is to snuggle up inside in the warm, so the last thing you’ll want is to experience or worry about, are plumbing and heating problems. Here at Heywood we’ve put together some tips for you to avoid any problems during those cold winter months so you can be prepared and ready.
• Covering Pipes – to avoid frozen pipework invest in some foam tubes to insulate the pipes against any severe drops in temperature. These can be purchased from most good hardware stores for a low price, a small preventative measure but really worth it in the long term.
• Unclog Drains and Gutters – if your gutters begin to collect too much debris when the temperature drops, ice can begin to form and this can lead to untold damage and even potential breaks to the guttering itself. Try to clear any leaves or plant debris now to prevent any drains becoming clogged
• Boiler Checks – a boiler breaking down in the middle of winter can be very unpleasant. Aim to have your boiler serviced in October before the temperature drops. During a service, we will check all the components of your boiler to make sure they are working properly and efficiently. We’ll clean out any dirt and debris within the boiler, check the oxygen-to-fuel ratio to ensure your boiler is not wasting fuel, and top up the water pressure if required.
• Bleed Radiators – before winter sets in, aim to ensure your heating system is working correctly. If any of your radiators are warm at the bottom but cold at the top you’ll need to bleed them. It’s a simple task and doesn’t need to take long; simply need to let the air out of the radiator by turning the radiator key. As you turn the key, air will be released, the water will push its way to the top, removing all the excess air and once a small amount of water comes out of the valve you should turn the key back. You should have a cloth ready in case the water is hot and to avoid any spillage.
If you are in need of a heating engineer or plumber then get in touch with our experts here at Heywood Heating.