With winter quickly approaching here are some tips to help prevent burst water pipes at your property.
Some of the advice is obvious, some of it may be new to you, but all of it should help you avoid a costly plumbing repair bill and water charges.
TIP #1: TRY TO KEEP THE HEAT ON
If you or your tenants are leaving for a period of time, make sure that the heat is kept on your property.
This may be difficult for tenants, especially when they are responsible for paying their own utilities. However, the heat can help prevent pipes from freezing, and if pipes freeze and burst, it can cause a lot of water damage to the property and to their possessions.
The heat does not have to be kept as high as you normally would keep it if you were actually in the property, but keeping it set at above 10 degrees is a good idea.
This should provide enough heat to keep the pipes warm and to prevent any water inside from freezing.
TIP #2: TURN WATER OFF AT THE METER AND ALLOW YOUR TAPS TO DRIP
If you are afraid a pipe will freeze while you are away you can also turn the water off at the council meter and turn the faucets on slightly.
Allowing the tap to be open like this will relieve pressure in the system. If a pipe freezes, it is actually the pressure that is created between the blockage and the faucet that will cause the pipe to burst.
Allowing the faucet to be open will prevent this pressure from building up and thus, keep the pipe from bursting.
TIP #3: KEEP INTERIOR DOORS OPEN
PIPES are often located in cabinets. When the temperatures drop, it is a good idea to keep these cabinet doors open so that the heat from the rest of the house can keep the pipes warm as well.
You should also keep all interior doors open so that the heat can flow throughout the home.
TIP #4: ADD EXTRA INSULATION
PIPES that are located in areas that do not have proper insulation, such as exposed outside, basements or attics, may need extra insulation to keep from freezing.
Pipes can be fitted with foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves to help decrease the chances of freezing.