As temperatures plummet to below zero, plumbers around the country are busy fixing burst pipes.
Water expands when it freezes, bursting sections of old pipes that can leave homeowners paying out hundreds on repairs.
They can cost anywhere from €500 to €2,000 – assuming you can find a plumber.
And an extra bill is the last thing anyone needs in the current cost of living squeeze, with energy prices rising.
The mercury dipped to a low of -7C this week, with the cold snap expected to last until the weekend.
So we asked top plumber Sean Richardson for his top tips on how to keep your pipes safe during the big freeze.
No-frills DIY Insulation
Sean has plenty of DIY tips that will save you money if you haven’t gotten round to getting your pipes professionally insulated yet.
A metre of pipe insulation costs just €2 so you could do a whole house for less than €100.
Cheaper still is a trick your granny used. Bunch up old newspapers, wrap the bunches around pipes and secure with duct tape.
This method that will see you through winter. Sean advises focusing on your plumbing’s weak spots, like outside exposed pipes and those in cold areas like the attic.
Keep Water Running
Keep an eye on the daily weather and any hint of a temperature drop, turn the taps on to allow a trickle.
Even the tiniest trickle flowing through pipes can stop a devastating freeze. Sean says there’s no need to turn on all the taps in the house, just the ones fed by pipes exposed to the elements.
This low flow will keep water moving nicely through pipes and stop pressure building up – a common cause of burst pipes.
Turn Up The Heat
It may sound counter-intuitive with the cost of heating bills at the moment, but Sean suggests leaving the heating on low 24/7 instead of blasting it during the day and turning it off at night.
Keeping heat consistent stops pipes from shocking and bursting. Sean recommends setting temperature dials to a steady 12C.
It’ll keep your plumbing in good shape and the heating bill will cost a lot less than fixing a burst pipe.
Let Hot Air Circulate
Open up cabinets and doors around your plumbing to let warm air from radiators and fires around your house flow around pipes. Plumbing set-ups are often located in kitchens or bathrooms and are easily forgotten about but Sean says circulating steady heat around them keeps pipes free from blockages.
How To Thaw Frozen Pipes
Run a hot hair-dryer up and down the length of frozen pipes to slowly thaw out the ice. You can also wrap warm towels and place hot water bottles along and around frozen pipes. Sean says they’re fantastic de-icing tools in an emergency. Just make sure to pop a bucket beneath the pipe to collect thawing ice.
Mind The Gaps
Check all doors and windows for any gaps or cracks as these leak huge amounts of heat from homes. Window-sills are major leakage hot-spots. Keep your eye out for cables running into the house too as there are usually gaps at cable entry points.
By sealing up these holes and gaps, you’ll boost your home’s insulation and this will also help keep general plumbing in good shape.
How Do I Know If My Pipes Are Frozen?
It should be evident. If water from your taps slows to a trickle or stops completely, you’ve got a pipe freeze on your hands. If it’s only happening with one tap, it’s probably not the pipes.
What Do I Do If My Pipes Are Frozen?
Don’t panic - but don’t let any more pressure build up in the pipes as this could spell disaster. Shut off water at the mains. This is usually under the sink or near your water meter. By doing this you can stop your pipes bursting.
What If My Pipes Have Burst?
Call a professional like Sean - but in the meantime, find a clamp, a block of wood and some rubber.
Place rubber over pipe breakage, cover it with the block of wood and use the clamp to hold it all together. Another option is to pick up pipe repair sleeves at your local hardware. Sleeves slip over pipes and keep water in.
These fixes don’t last long so call that plumber. In the meantime, turn off water at the mains and try to drain and dry off as much excess water as possible to avoid mould and mildew build-up.
For more plumbing tips visit seanrichardsonservices.com.
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