BRADFORD-based Yorkshire Water is advising first-time buyers on making sure their home is winter ready.
New research by the utility firm has revealed that an average of £5,070 was spent on home improvements and £4,711 on soft furnishings and decorations this year.
Yet only one in five new to home ownership know how to adequately protect their new homes for winter.
Of a list of ‘winter ready’ tasks, 62 per cent said that they had cleared their gutters and 72 per cent have had their boiler serviced.
However 79 per cent said they don’t know how to protect their water pipes from the cold, with frozen or burst pipes, costing an estimated £7,500 per burst.
Yorkshire Water has issued advice for first-time buyers, which details the steps to take to protect household pipes this winter.
Know where your stop tap is – if a pipe bursts, the first thing you’ll need to do is shut off the stop tap. It’s worth checking where your stop tap is now so you’re prepared if the worst happens. They’re usually found under your kitchen sink.
Lag vulnerable pipes – this means wrapping them in foam insulation to protect them from the cold weather. Check for pipes, taps, cisterns, tanks and water meters in unheated areas that might be exposed to the cold. When you’ve found them, cut a piece of lagging to size and clip it on. If you’ve got some cable ties handy, pop a couple on to keep it secure. This will also help insulate your hot water system and could save you money on bills. You can also protect your outdoor taps with a tap cover to stop them freezing.
If you go away for Christmas, keep your heating on low to avoid a dramatic drop in temperature. If severe weather is forecast, set the heating to your usual level, day and night.
Know what to do: If you turn your tap on to find no water, you might have a frozen pipe. First, check all exposed pipes for any leaks or bursts, if you can’t see anything then turn the tap on at your kitchen sink and heat the pipe with a hairdryer. Never ever use a naked flame to defrost a pipe. If a pipe bursts then turn your water off at the stop tap to minimise damage and water loss and find a trusted plumber.
Neil Dewis, director of water service delivery at Yorkshire Water said: “Temperatures may drop over the coming winter months, and a burst pipe is certainly at the bottom of everyone’s Christmas wish list. If you’ve just moved into a new home or bought your first property, make sure you know how to protect it from cold weather.
“For those customers worried about accessing their exposed pipes or meter, take a look at our Priority Services Register to see if we can help in any way.”
For more information on being winter ready, visit yorkshirewater.com/help-and-advice/winterready
