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Top 5 Cold Weather Pipe Lagging Tips

If you’re looking for the ultimate cold weather pipe lagging tips then you’ve come to the right place. Winter weather can be tough on the plumbing systems of your house. When the temperature drops below freezing point, pipes that are not insulated can freeze. Since water expands as it freezes, the extra volume and pressure can cause pipes to burst. Once the water starts to melt, the pipe will begin to leak water all over, resulting in considerable damage to your home.

The following top 5 pipe lagging tips will help you to care for your pipes and avoid the damage, and cost, associated with burst pipes!

 

pipe insulation tips

Cold Weather Pipe Lagging Tips

1. Fill Entry Gaps Around Pipes
Each home has one or more points where the main water supply, sewer drain and natural gas or propane enters. These entry points may have small gaps around them. Taking the time to insulate them, or have a plumbing company like us fill those gaps, will help reduce the risk of frozen pipes. Filling gaps also lessens the risk of a pest infestation during the wintertime.

2. Insulate Your Pipes
Pipes should be insulated with the proper type of wrap-around material. This material helps to keep the pipes warmer and prevents cold air from freezing the water inside. An added benefit of insulating your home’s hot water pipes is that the water heating system may be more efficient, requiring less fuel to maintain a supply of hot water. As such it’s worth investing in some pipe insulation to give you peace of mind, especially should we experience another “Beast from the East” next winter! There are a lot of good pipe insulation options available at places like pipelagging.com although it’s always best practise to get professionals like us to come and fit the insulation for best results.

3. Inspect Pipes Regularly
All of your water pipes should be inspected at least once per month. Check all of the connections and fittings, especially where pipes bend and turn. Touch the pipe insulation to see if it feels damp or wet. Run the water and watch the pipes to see if any water leaks out from around the pipe junctions and fittings. When the weather is particularly cold, check all of the pipes for signs of cracks.

4. Allow Air to Circulate Around Pipes
When the weather is expected to drop below freezing point, open cabinet and cupboard doors so that the heated air in your home can freely circulate around the pipes. So long as the temperature of the air around the pipe is at least 4 degrees Celsius, or about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the pipes are unlikely to freeze or burst.

5. Make Essential Plumbing Repairs
It is also important to make essential plumbing repairs at the first sign of a problem. While many people believe that a dripping tap prevents the water pipes from freezing, research has shown that this is not the case. A dripping tap simply wastes water. Running toilets and other leaky fixtures should also be repaired. The hoses for washing machines should also be checked for signs of wear and tear.

Summary

We hope these pipe lagging tips have helped you. Maintaining your pipes and keeping them in good condition is vitally important especially over the winter months. So if you’re ever in any doubt or want a professional plumber to come and inspect your property, please don’t hesitate to call SCD Plumbing and we’ll be happy to help.

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If you are looking for a plumber in Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset or any of the surrounding areas then just give SCD Plumbing a call and we will be happy to assist you further.

SCD Plumbing Bournemouth & Poole

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