The £5 B&Q buy that stops pipes freezing and could save you £600
ANYONE worried about their pipes freezing in colder weather could solve the issue with a £5 buy from B&Q.
Not only can a burst pipe cause major problems at the time, but on top of this, you could find yourself dealing with leaks long after the cold weather has gone.
But there’s an easy hack to reduce the risk of your pipes freezing during this extreme cold spell, according to Andy Simms, heating expert at MyBuilder.com.
He told The Sun: “If you have an outdoor tap, all you need to do is buy a ‘tap jacket’ for it.
This is a simple insulated protector which goes over an exposed exterior faucet.”
You can pick up one of these covers for less than £5 on Amazon or B&Q Marketplace. They can also be purchased from stores such as Screwfix and Toolstation.
“Frozen outdoor taps can add serious pressure to your internal pipes,” said Andy. “But a jacket can save you from a whole host of problems.”
Andy recommends keeping the jacket on during January and February.
He said: “It only takes a matter of minutes to put it on. Just slip it over the tap and hook it on with the hook and strap.”
You then need to make sure it is as tight as possible.
The building supremo added: “A tap cover will safeguard your outdoor plumbing from freezing – helping give you peace of mind during the cold weather.”
According to MyBuilder.com, the cost of repairing a burst pipe typically ranges between £150 and £600 – though the exact amount will depend on things such as the severity of the damage, the location of the pipe, and the materials required.
Andy said: “A tap jacket is a great way to prevent damage and costly property repairs. And while you’re at it, it’s also good practice to disconnect any hose pipes over winter, too.”
If you are unlucky enough to find yourself facing an emergency from a broken outdoor tap, it’s vital you know where your stopcock is located.
This might sound like a no-brainer, yet research from MyBuilder.com shows that nearly half of UK homeowners don’t know where theirs is.
Andy said: “In an emergency, you’ll need to act quickly – so take action now and familiarise yourself with where to find it.”
Be aware that exposed pipes in any unheated area, such as your garage or basement can be particularly vulnerable to freezing.
With this in mind, it’s worth investing in protection for these, too. By wrapping insulation around them, you can help to keep them warmer – hopefully avoiding damage.
You can pick up pipe insulation from the likes of B&Q and Screwfix, with prices starting from just a pound.
Andy has a simple tip to help keep your home at a consistent temperature this winter.
“Allow warm air to pass through the house via open internal doors,” he said. “If your tanks or pipes are in cupboards, leave them open to allow warm air to circulate too.”
In addition, it’s worth adding draught excluders to doors and windows to stop them from letting cold in.
You can buy ‘draught excluder tape’ from Amazon for less than a fiver, and can find draught excluders at B&M, Wilko and The Range for under a tenner.
Note that if you plan on leaving your home unattended this week – or during any spell of extremely cold weather – there’s an increased risk of pipes bursting or freezing.
Andy said: “Whether visiting family – or escaping to warmer climates – it’s vital to take the right precautions to save you from costly damage.”
So what action do you need to take?
“We recommend keeping your thermostat on around 12-15°C when away from your home,” said Andy.
“While it’s understandable that people don’t want to spend money on heating an empty home, it’s important to maintain a reasonable temperature while you’re away.”
If you don’t have a thermostat, you can use the timer on your boiler to set the heating to come on for a short time per day. Another option is to use smart technology to control the temperature of your property.
Andy said: “You can use the remote thermostat to set the temperature you prefer, wherever you are and whenever you want.”
The heating whizz has another important piece of advice for those going away for a lengthy period this winter.
“It’s advisable to turn your water off at the stopcock,” he said. “This will prevent any leaks or burst pipes.”
Andy added: “Cold weather can wreak havoc on our homes.
As always, preparing for this in advance is always the best option.”
If you’ve not done so already, make sure you get your boiler serviced.
The heating expert said: “The last thing anyone needs when the temperature plunges is a broken boiler.
Should this happen during freezing weather, you’ll not only be facing a cold house, but it could lead to burst pipes should the water inside them freeze.”
An annual boiler service will ensure any potential issues are nipped in the bud. Always use a registered Gas Safe engineer. Expect to pay around £100.
Once your boiler has been given the once-over, you may find you can turn down the overall temperature by a degree or so and still be just as cosy – saving you some more cash.
The Energy Saving Trust recommends you set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C.