Winter is the busiest time for plumbing and heating engineers — most callouts are for problems that could have been prevented with simple preparation. Here's how to protect your home before temperatures drop.
1. Get your boiler serviced
The most important step. An annual boiler service identifies small problems before they cause a breakdown. Book in September or October while engineers are still available — January callouts are the hardest to schedule.
2. Insulate your condensate pipe
If you have a condensing boiler (installed after 2005, or any modern combi), it has a white plastic pipe that drains condensate water to an external drain. In freezing temperatures, this pipe can ice up and cause your boiler to lock out. Wrap it in foam pipe lagging — available from any DIY store.
3. Insulate pipes in unheated spaces
Pipes in lofts, garages, and under suspended floors are most at risk of freezing. Foam lagging is cheap and easy to fit. Pay particular attention to pipes running close to exterior walls.
4. Know where your stopcock is
If a pipe does burst, you need to be able to isolate the water supply immediately. Your main stopcock is usually under the kitchen sink. Make sure everyone in the household knows where it is and that it turns easily — they can seize up over time.
5. Keep the heating on low if you're away
Leaving the heating off completely while you're on holiday in winter is a false economy if it results in frozen pipes. Set the programmer to maintain a minimum temperature of 10–12°C throughout the property.
6. Bleed your radiators
Radiators with trapped air waste heat and make your boiler work harder. Bleed them before the heating season starts (see our [bleeding guide](/blog/how-to-bleed-a-radiator)).
7. Check your boiler pressure
Verify that your boiler is showing the correct operating pressure (1–1.5 bar on the gauge). Low pressure means the boiler will lock out — usually at the worst possible time.
8. Service your external tap
If you have an outside tap, close the internal isolating valve and drain the tap before the first frost. Frozen outside taps can split the tap body and cause internal pipework damage.
If you'd like to book a boiler service or have any plumbing concerns ahead of winter, contact NBS Plumbing & Heating — **07507 133204**.