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Buy now, pay later interest freeWith the UK experiencing sub-zero temperatures in January, 2025 is off to a challenging start for so many of us!
Yet, during the winter months, the UK often experiences cold spells that can wreak havoc on your home if you're not prepared. From freezing pipes to drafty windows, there are a variety of ways in which the cold weather can cause damage. Therefore, it’s important to take steps to protect your home from the cold.
Here at City Plumbing, the home of heating, we offer some useful tips that can help you protect your home through the UK cold spells.
Maintain Your Heating System
One of the most important aspects of protecting your home during the winter is ensuring that your heating system is in good working order. It’s always good practice to have your boiler maintained and serviced regularly, ideally before the cold weather sets in. It’s also worth considering investing in a smart thermostat to help regulate the temperature in your home efficiently.
- Boiler Servicing: Have your boiler serviced annually to ensure it's running efficiently and safely.
- Radiator Bleeding: Bleed your radiators to remove trapped air and improve heat distribution.
- Thermostat Control: Use a programmable thermostat to optimise heating and reduce energy consumption.
Insulate Where You Can
Home insulation is key when working to prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from seeping in. Good home insulation is a smart investment that also ensures that your heating system doesn't have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature.
- Loft Insulation: Ensure your loft is properly insulated. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce heat loss.
- Wall Insulation: Consider cavity wall insulation or internal/external wall insulation to improve energy efficiency.
- Floor Insulation: If you have a suspended ground floor, insulating it can significantly reduce heat loss.
Seal Gaps With Draft Exclusions
One often overlooked aspect of winterising a home is draft exclusion. Draft exclusion involves sealing any gaps or cracks in windows, doors, and other areas of your home to prevent cold air from seeping in and warm air from escaping. Also known as weather-stripping, this can be done using a variety of materials, such as rubber, foam, or vinyl, which are placed around windows and doors to create a tight seal.
- Windows and Doors: Use caulk to seal any gaps or cracks around window frames, baseboards, and other areas where drafts may occur. Use draught excluders, weather-stripping, and secondary glazing to minimise cold air infiltration. Door sweeps can be used on exterior doors to prevent drafts under the door.
- Chimneys and Fireplaces: If you have an open fireplace, ensure the chimney is properly sealed when not in use.
Protect Your Pipes
When the temperature drops, the risk of frozen pipes increases significantly. To prevent this from happening, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in your home. You can purchase pipe insulation from City Plumbing and easily wrap it around the pipes to keep them warm.
Remember to keep your heating on a low setting during particularly cold nights to help prevent your pipes from freezing.
- Lagging: Wrap exposed pipes in unheated areas like basements, attics, and crawl spaces with insulation sleeves or foam pipe wrap. This creates a barrier against cold air.
- External Taps: Isolate external taps with tap covers to prevent freezing.
Choose City Plumbing For All Your Heating Needs This Winter
With top-named brands at some of the lowest prices, City Plumbing is ready to help you beat the chill this winter with some of our most exclusive deals on heating and plastics.
The home of heating, City Plumbing has you covered throughout every season. With everything you need to kit out your home, our extensive range includes everything from boilers to radiators, plumbing to electrical, and much more besides.
If you’re looking for help with keeping your home warm this winter, take a further look at our City Plumbing website.
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