Plumbing advice · Seasonal & Prevention
The Winter Plumbing Checklist Every Home Needs
Ten minutes in November that prevent the two most expensive January callouts.
Outside
Isolate and drain outside taps. Lag exposed pipe runs. Clear gutters and downpipes before the leaves freeze into a plug. Check the condensate pipe from the boiler is lagged where it exits the wall.
Inside
Find the stopcock and turn it fully closed and open once, a stopcock that hasn't moved in a decade seizes exactly when you need it. Bleed radiators. Check the boiler pressure sits around 1.2–1.5 bar cold.
Going away
Heating on low (12–15°C) rather than off; a frozen house with heating "off to save money" is the single most expensive economy in plumbing. For long absences, turn the stopcock off and open taps to drain down, an empty pipe cannot burst.
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