Plumber shares the exact temperature of your home to avoid expensive frozen pipes
As snow falls over Britain and temperatures drop, you’ll need to listen carefully if you want to avoid expensive frozen pipes.
To ensure you avoid internal and external damage during the winter months, homeowners should make sure they prepare in advance.
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Cold temperatures increase the risk of household pipes freezing and bursting, which can cause significant damage to both plumbing and heating systems.
But luckily for you, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent this.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to brave the cold and do something about your pipes.
You actually have everything you need to check at home, so ideal for cold days like today.
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According to a professional plumber, if you want to make sure your pipes don’t freeze, make sure your home is the right temperature.
David Doran, a plumbing expert at Blackstone Plumbing and Heating Ltdexplained that you need to check that your thermostat is on the correct settings.
While many of us may be tempted to turn up the central heating on cold days, David recommends keeping your home at a stable temperature.
David advises homeowners to keep their pad at an ideal temperature between 18°C and 20°C.
By setting the thermostat to at least 18 degrees, the pipes remain warm and the temperature is not too low to prevent the pipes from freezing.
According to this professional, many modern central heating systems have a ‘frost protection’ mode, which keeps your home above freezing and uses minimal energy.
But if you’re lucky enough to be flying abroad this winter, or if you’re on a budget and simply want to cut back on your heating consumption, you should avoid turning off the heating altogether.
The expert explained that it is advisable to lower the temperature to about 15 to 17°C while sleeping or when the house is empty.
Cheap gadgets to keep you warm
MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but still stay warm.
Heating “the person, not the house” means that you heat yourself instead of turning on the heat and heating the whole house.
This allows you to save money on your heating costs and you don’t have to be out in the cold.
- USB Gloves – initial cost £10, cost to use less than 1p per hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, running costs less than 1p per hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to use less than 1p per hour
- Electric vest – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), running costs less than 1p per hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, running cost less than 1p per hour
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, running costs less than 1p per hour
This saves energy and prevents the house from becoming too cold.
This in turn improves efficiency and saves you money on your energy bills, making it a win this season.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Make your home draught-free
It takes time and money to heat your home, so it’s important that you do everything you can to keep the heat in. Close your doors and windows and fill any gaps with weatherstripping.
2. Turn down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, lowering the thermostat by just one degree Celsius can reduce your heating costs by up to 10% and save you around £85 a year. And if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one can save you up to $70 per year!
3. Move furniture
Ensure that large, bulky furniture such as sofas does not block the radiators.
4. Wash clothes at a lower temperature and add extra spin cycle
Unless it is bedding, towels or very dirty items, turn the temperature down to 20 or 30 degrees and rotate the machine twice to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person, not the house
There is no point in heating up a room with no one in it, so pay close attention to which radiators are on.
Alternatively, you can schedule regular heating intervals throughout the day to ensure your pipes stay warm and reduce the chance of freezing.
Not only this, but you should also ensure that your boiler is regularly maintained to keep it in optimal condition.
Ensuring your boiler is checked regularly will keep heating consistent throughout your home, checking for leaks, blockages and safe appliance functionality.
David recommends having your boiler serviced annually to ensure safe and efficient operation, which will also prevent problems such as gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
