As winter rolls around, and the temperatures drop to around or even below zero degrees, there are a plethora of issues which can plague your building’s plumbing systems.
At negative temperatures, water will freeze if it remains stagnant, and this can in turn lead to significantly reduced efficiency, frozen pipework, or the worst case scenario which is burst pipes. Plus, your hot water system, heating system and radiators will all be put under significantly more pressure, due to having to raise the temperature by more, and remain turned on for larger portions of the day.
At Plumbing & Gas Solutions, we know very well how hard this time of year hits both our commercial and domestic customers. So, with all this being said, we felt that we should share our expertise and provide some cold weather plumbing tips to help you through this difficult time of year.
Lagging Pipework
The most important piece of advice that we can give (and something which will benefit you all year round) is that you should lag your pipework. This is especially important for commercial businesses, but it’s good practice for any plumbing system. Lagging is insulation which you wrap your pipe in, that puts a thermal layer between the pipework and the outside air. Pipes are made from metals which are often strong thermal conductors – meaning that the outside temperature can notably influence the internal contents of the pipe.
By providing this additional layer, you’re able to create a distinct barrier between the internal heat and the external cold, which not only prevents freezing of stagnant water, but also reduces heat loss when heated water travels through the pipe. This means that this one single upgrade to your plumbing will both reduce the risk of problems, and simultaneously increase efficiency.
To find out more about the ways in which we can protect your pipework this winter, call Plumbing & Gas Solutions 01908 569031.
Hot Water and Related Maintenance
While it’s obvious that your boiler will get more of a workout when it’s cold, and that radiators will take longer to warm up, it may be harder to appreciate the impact it can have on your building’s hot water system.
There are three main different types of hot water systems, these use a ‘Combi Boiler’, a ‘Vented Cylinder’ or an ‘Unvented Cylinder’. If you have a combi boiler (usually only used for domestic use due to the fact that it deals with much smaller quantities of water) then your maintenance is simple! Service the boiler every year and if you have any concerns with its performance, ask a Gas Safe Registered engineer to support you. However, when you have a hot water cylinder as well, this needs its own maintenance, too!
If your system uses either a vented or unvented system, where the water is heated up in a water cylinder instead of the boiler, this is another appliance which can feel the impact of low temperatures during the winter months. Vented systems do not require regular servicing (although never hurts to check on it!), however, if you have an unvented cylinder, you’re expected to have it serviced annually, just like your boiler! This will ensure that your warranty remains valid, and will reduce the risk of a breakdown which – depending on the configuration of your system – could leave you without hot water completely.
Dealing with Clogged Drains
When the weather is cold, the contents of your drain are more likely to solidify in your drainage system, especially substances like grease and oil, or general food waste. You will have likely heard about the risks of pouring grease down your sink at home, for example. This same issue can also impact commercial sites, especially if your site deals with large quantities of grease or oil, for example, if you have an on-site canteen or kitchen shared by lots of people.
There are a few ways to try and keep on top of your drain maintenance before it gets too late, the most important being to simply monitor what goes into the drain! Don’t pour solid or semi-solid food waste into the sink, and avoid grease and oils wherever possible. If you can’t avoid it, dilute it with warm water. Speaking of warm water, the best way to flush your drain through is to pour hot (but never boiling) water down the drain, to soften any solidified substances and clear out the pipes.
If your drains get clogged anyway, and a simple flush through won’t do, you will need to resort to a plunger or, of course, call Plumbing & Gas Solutions to come and professionally clean the drains.
Prevent or Remove Dead Legs
A ‘Dead Leg’ is a section of pipework which is very rarely – or permanently no longer – used, for example a section of pipework which runs to an office shower that’s seldom turned on. Another common cause is if a piece of pipework which previously served a now disused or removed appliance (such as a cylinder or radiator) is not decommissioned and removed. These can be very problematic for your site and even your safety.
Dead legs are an issue all year round, because this stagnant water has more than one way to harm your building. While the emphasis on this article is the fact that cold weather can cause you issues, dead legs which remain in place can pose an even bigger threat due to the fact that it creates an environment in which Legionella Bacteria can thrive [find out more here on our legionella testing page]. Regarding the cold temperatures, the same stagnant water which poses legionella risks is the water that, when frozen, can lead to burst pipes or leaks.
If you have a dead leg, which you know will remain out of use, the best course of action is always to decommission and remove that piece of pipework, to prevent legionella bacteria building up. However, in the case of a run of pipe which serves a purpose, but is very rarely used, we advise just occasionally using it and getting some water moving through the system, to reduce the risk of Legionnaire’s Disease, a leak or a burst pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lagging your pipes is by far the most effective defence against frozen pipes, however you can also drastically reduce the threat of freezing by ensuring that the water in your pipes is stagnant for as little time as possible. This can be achieved by turning on your heating or hot water system for a short period of time throughout the day to circulate the water.
You must immediately turn off your water supply, as soon as possible. You can do this by locating your stopcock (which will usually be under the kitchen sink at a domestic address). Then turn off any electrics that are near the location of the leak. Then, once you’re safe, call a professional plumber immediately.
When you’re not going to be in your house for a while, it may seem like a good idea to shut everything down and save some money on your bills, however, this can cause you a much more expensive headache when you return! We advise leaving your heating on a timer to come on a couple of times each day, to get the water in your systems circulating and reduce the likelihood of frozen pipes, which can lead to a major leak.
