As the festive period approaches, many businesses across Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas prepare to close their doors for the Christmas shutdown. While winding down operations is an important part of the season, it’s equally important to ensure your building is protected during this period of low or no occupancy.
Plumbing, heating and water systems are especially vulnerable during shutdowns. A few simple steps can prevent costly issues such as frozen pipes, leaks, boiler faults or legionella risks when your team returns in January.
At PGS, we support businesses of all sizes with planned shutdowns, large-system isolation and safe recommissioning in the new year. Below are our top tips for keeping your premises safe and efficient over the festive break.
Protect Your Building with Sensible Heating Settings
One of the biggest misconceptions is that turning the heating off completely will save money. In reality, doing so can leave your building vulnerable to frozen pipes, condensation, mould growth and prolonged warm-up times when staff return.
Our recommendation:
- Do not switch heating off.
- Set your system to a low, consistent temperature (typically 10–15°C depending on building type).
- Maintain slow, steady heat, especially in older properties or larger premises with long pipe runs.
This keeps the fabric of the building warm, reduces the energy needed to bring the building back up to temperature and helps protect internal pipework from freezing.
Avoid Water Stagnation & Legionella Risks
When water sits still in pipework, tanks or outlets for long periods, there is an increased risk of bacterial growth, including Legionella. This is particularly relevant in workplaces with showers, unused taps, spray outlets, or hot-water storage.
Before shutdown:
- Flush all little-used outlets.
- Ensure hot water cylinders are maintaining safe temperatures (60°C+ at the cylinder).
- Check thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are functioning correctly.
During shutdown:
- Avoid completely draining systems unless part of a managed process.
- Keep hot water systems running at safe storage temperatures.
After shutdown:
- Run taps, flush toilets and operate showers for a few minutes to refresh systems.
PGS can support you with pre-shutdown flushing, risk assessments and safe restart procedures in January.
Safeguard Your Pipework from Freezing
Cold snaps over the holidays can cause significant damage if pipework isn’t protected.
Take these simple precautions:
- Check all insulation on exposed pipework, especially in lofts, plant rooms or external areas.
- Repair any draughts that might allow cold air into vulnerable spaces.
- Verify frost protection settings are enabled on boilers and controls.
- Ensure commercial boilers have had recent servicing to reduce the likelihood of faults during low-load operation.
Inspect Plant Rooms & Mechanical Systems
Before closing down:
- Walk through plant rooms and visually inspect for signs of leaks, drips, unusual noises or low pressure.
- Check expansion vessels and system pressures.
- Confirm any BMS (Building Management System) holiday schedules are correctly set.
A short 10-minute plant-room check can prevent expensive problems occurring when no one is on-site to spot them.
Consider a Managed Shutdown or Restart
If your building has large, complex or high-risk systems, a full shutdown can be done, but it must be done properly.
PGS can assist with:
- Planned isolation of water systems
- Safe shutdown of commercial boilers and heating circuits
- Drain-down and refill of large systems
- Restart and commissioning in the new year
- Legionella control measures
- System health checks before staff return
For many businesses, a managed low-power running mode is safer and more cost-effective than a full shutdown. We can advise on the right approach for your premises.
Shut Off the Water Supply (Where Appropriate)
If your building will be completely vacant over the Christmas break, it’s best practice to shut off the cold-water mains supply using the stopcock. This reduces the risk of major water damage in the unlikely event of a burst pipe while the site is empty.
Before closing:
• Locate and test your main stopcock so you know it operates correctly.
• Confirm whether your building is mains-fed or tank-fed, shutting off the mains prevents further water entering the system.
• Only use this step if it suits your building layout and operational requirements.
Not sure? If you’re unsure whether this is appropriate for your premises, PGS can advise based on your system setup.
Additional Tips Before You Lock Up
A few final checks go a long way:
- Check for leaks, running toilets or dripping taps before leaving.
- Empty and clean kitchen sinks to avoid odours.
- Switch off any non-essential appliances (but not your heating or hot water!).
- Ensure emergency contacts are visible for keyholders or security teams.
- Review any remote monitoring alerts to make sure they’re functioning.
Need Help Preparing for the Christmas Shutdown?
Whether you operate a small office, multi-unit site or large industrial facility, PGS can support you with:- Commercial plumbing & heating checks
- Legionella control & water safety
- Boiler servicing, diagnostics & frost protection
- Large-system shutdown and restart services
- Emergency callouts over the festive period (for existing clients)