Avoid Plumbing Emergencies this Christmas

The last thing you want to be worried about at Christmas is any unexpected plumbing emergencies. Try to avoid a nasty plumbing surprise by following these simple tips.

Check your radiators.

Check all your radiators for any cold spots or one's not working at all.  (Even the one in the spare room, just in case Auntie Betty has too much sherry again, and needs a little lie down.)

If you have got any that aren't performing as they should, try bleeding the radiator, this should remove any air that is trapped within the radiator and its pipes, and allow the hot water to circulate properly.  If this doesn't solve the problem, you may need to clean the radiator out.

Insulate Pipes

Frozen pipes are the most common home emergency this time of year, and they can be a disaster.  They can cause your water supply to seize up, and not only that, because water expands when it freezes, it can cause pipes to burst, causing a major leak once the water starts to thaw out.

Check your pipes for adequate insulation, as this is by far the best way to avoid this situation.

If you do end up with frozen pipes this Christmas, be very careful defrosting them, as you could cause further damage.

Blocked Drains

Over the Christmas period we tend to eat, drink and be merry.  When preparing your Christmas lunch, avoid pouring oil or grease down the drain, put it in the bin instead.  As the temperature drops fat and grease can freeze and completely block the drain.

As a preventative measure, use drain unblocker every couple of months to keep your drains clear of debris.

Also try using drain covers to collect food debris that would usually fall down into the drain.

Of course, if you have plumbing cover with YourRepair HomePlan they you don't need to worry.  You can call us any time and we will get someone out without delay.