Winter Is Coming – Is Your Plumbing and Heating Ready?
There’s never a good time for your heating to stop working or a pipe to start leaking, but in winter, it can be particularly frustrating.
With autumn approaching and winter following close behind, a little preparation now can make all the difference.
If you live around Hamble, Botley, Hedge End, Southampton, Wickham or the surrounding Hampshire area, now is a good time to get your plumbing and heating serviced.
I’ve put together some pointers and questions to ask yourself.
When was your oil boiler last serviced?
It's very easy to forget about your boiler when it's quietly doing its job.
You turn the heating on; the house gets warm and you don't give it a second thought. But oil boilers, like any other heating appliance, need regular servicing to keep them operating safely and efficiently.
If you can't remember the last time your oil boiler was serviced, or you know it's overdue, don't wait until the middle of winter.
An annual service gives you the opportunity to have it checked before you really need it. It can also highlight worn or failing components before they turn into an inconvenient breakdown. If your oil boiler does break down, see my emergency oil boiler repairs page.
As an OFTEC registered engineer with over 20 years of experience, I can tell you that a service now is a lot less stressful than finding yourself without heating on a freezing January morning!
You can read more about what a service covers on my oil boiler services pages.
Don't ignore a radiator that isn't heating properly
Have you switched the heating on yet and noticed that one radiator isn't getting as warm as the others? Perhaps it's cold at the top, making strange noises or taking much longer to heat up.
It may be something simple, such as air trapped inside the radiator, but it could also point to an issue elsewhere in the heating system. It's worth getting these things checked out before the really cold weather arrives.
Protect your pipes from freezing
Frozen pipes can cause serious problems. When water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on your pipework and potentially causing a pipe to split.
The damage may not become obvious until the ice starts to thaw and water begins escaping.
One of the simplest things you can do is insulate exposed pipework, particularly pipes in garages, lofts, cupboards, outbuildings and other areas that aren't heated.
A little bit of pipe insulation is inexpensive compared with the potential cost and inconvenience of dealing with a burst pipe.
If the worst does happen, my emergency plumber page explains what to do first.
Don't put off those small plumbing jobs
We all have them: the dripping taps you've been meaning to fix, the toilet that occasionally keeps running, the slow-draining sink, the radiator that doesn't quite work properly, the small leak that you've put a bucket underneath and forgotten about. Small plumbing problems don't always stay small.
Winter can put extra pressure on your plumbing and heating systems, so getting those niggling jobs sorted now makes sense.
It's much nicer to deal with a problem when it's convenient for you rather than when it becomes an emergency.
My plumbing pages cover the everyday repairs I handle across Botley, Hedge End, Eastleigh and the surrounding villages.
Don't forget your outside taps
Outside plumbing is particularly vulnerable when temperatures drop.
If you have an outside tap, disconnect and drain your hosepipe before the cold weather arrives, and check the tap and exposed pipework for any leaks or signs of damage. Protecting vulnerable pipework can help reduce the risk of freezing and leaks.
It's also worth checking your outside drains and gutters. Winter rain, leaves, and debris can quickly cause blockages, so clearing them before the weather turns can help prevent problems later.
Is your oil boiler making a funny noise?
If your oil boiler has started making unusual noises, cutting out, struggling to heat the house or taking longer than usual to provide hot water, don't simply hope it will sort itself out. Boiler problems rarely improve by being ignored.
Getting it checked while the system is still working often prevents a much bigger problem down the line. And if your oil boiler is due its annual service, there's no real benefit in waiting until the coldest part of the year.
Get your plumbing sorted before winter
If you've been putting off a plumbing repair, noticed something unusual with your heating, or can't remember when your oil boiler was last serviced, now is a good time to get it sorted.
I carry out a wide range of plumbing work as well as oil boiler servicing, repairs and installations. If you've got a plumbing or heating job you've been putting off, contact me before winter arrives.