DON’T FREEZE UP

Tue 05 Dec 2023

If you are looking after an empty or vacate property during the winter months it is important to make sure that nothing freezes up with the potential for burst pipes and resultant water damage.  Check any specific requirements with your insurance company.  However the following is a useful, but by no means fully comprehensive, guide.  The most comprehensive method is to turn the water off and fully drain down both the plumbing and central heating systems.  To ensure all the water has been removed this is a job best undertaken by a professional plumber.  If water is to remain in the system it is important that a minimum temperature is maintained in the building.  Many modern heating systems have a frost protection setting.  For older systems set a minimum temperature and programme the heating to come on for a few hours each day.  The coldest temperatures are usually at night so running the heating for a few hours at night is often enough to keep the temperature up.  If the outside temperature drops to significantly below zero during the day as well the heating will need to be run at a low temperature for longer.  Make sure any outside pipes are lagged or better still the supply is isolated.  A final tip is to make sure that any dripping overflows are fixed to prevent them freezing up and potentially leading to overflowing internal tanks.

As the saying goes, don’t get caught out by Jack Frost!