Some helpful tips to stop your pipes freezing have been shared by a plumbing expert
Frost on a tap(Image: Brigitte Blättler)
As temperatures plummet across Ireland, Irish households are being urged to make sure their properties are winter-ready.
One of the main issues facing homes during cold spells is burst pipes, which can cost up to €2000 to repair.
Outdoor pipes are particularly vulnerable to freezing and, as a result, bursting. The experts have now shared some important tips to avoid suffering this costly mistake.
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Sean Richardson of Complete Plumbing Solutions shared some simple tips that could save you a fortune.
One such trick is to let a tiny trickle of water through the taps to keep water flowing and prevent taps from freezing.
He said: “Met Eireann are pretty good at forecasting when there’ll be a particularly harsh drop in temperatures, so turn your taps on and allow just a trickle to come through the pipes.
“We’re not saying do this with all of the taps in the house, but just the ones that are supplied by exposed pipes.
“The constant movement of the water through the pipes will help prevent freezing and relieve any potential pressure buildup that could burst a pipe.”
Irish homeowners are also being advised to keep doors ajar to let warm air circulate around pipes.
Richardson said: “Keeping cabinets and doors open is a simple but effective measure to keep warm air circulating around your pipes.
“In most homes, the kitchen or bathroom plumbing is tucked away behind a cabinet door of some sort.
“During a cold snap, you should open these doors to allow the warm air from inside the house to get around the pipes, keeping them free from blockages.”
He also advises getting insulation, which he says is much cheaper than having to deal with frozen pipes.
He explained: “A metre length of pipe insulation can be as cheap as two euro, so it really is a no-brainer, you could have all of your pipes insulated for less than one hundred euro.
“We would always advise that you focus on the most vulnerable sections of your plumbing; the exterior pipes and the pipes located in the unheated areas of your home, like the attic.
“If there’s cold weather on the way and you haven’t had the time to insulate your pipes properly, you can DIY it too.
“Around 50 to 60 years ago, people used to wrap the pipes in old, bunched up newspapers and just secured it with some tape. It may sound funny, but it definitely does the job in a pinch.”
While keeping the heating on can also be important, he knows that heating bills continue to increase, so it may not be appealing.
“When temperatures dip, we tend to blast the heat during the day and turn things down at night, this isn’t helping your internal plumbing.
“Try and keep your heating at a more consistent temperature over a 24 hour period as this will keep the pipes from freezing. Ideally, you should always be around 12C at least.”
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