Winter drains advice
The frost, snow and cold weather can take a huge toll on your drains and plumbing systems during the winter, often causing a large amount of damage if things go wrong.
The Problem
Burst pipe
With so much water flowing through the home on a daily basis, a burst pipe can cause structural damage and be incredibly costly to repair.
In order to prevent this, a few precautionary measures can be taken - all of which should offer a level of protection from winter damage these are listed below in the solutions section of the page.
The Solution
Health & Safety Messages
This article has been produced for information only. It offers you basic advice to do the job yourself but in order to prevent harm to yourself or damage to equipment or property, please ensure you use the correct tools and suitable personal protective equipment. If you have any concerns please do not hesitate in contacting one of our professional engineers.
Prevent blockages
One of the key things to remember during the winter is that if the flow of water in your drains is inhibited at any point, it's far more likely to block. To reduce this risk, it's a good idea to ensure the drains are kept as free from debris as possible.
This means regularly clearing leaves, twigs and other debris from the gutters and gullies and using a grate of some sort to cover any open gullies. It's also important to watch what you pour down the drains. Substances like cooking fat and grease can easily congeal in the pipes and cause blockages.
Avoid frozen pipes
Frozen pipes can be an absolute nightmare during the winter months and are liable to burst. If the water flow appears restricted at any point on its journey, it's a good indication that there is a frozen blockage somewhere.
If you're expecting very cold weather, any pipes that are exposed to the elements, whether they are outside or found in your home, should be insulated properly with pipe lagging and heat tape. You can also regularly pour a little hot water down your sinks in order to remove any build-up of fats, oils and grease in the pipes.
Make sure there is no dripping
Dripping taps are a major contributor to frozen and blocked pipes as the slow release of water means it's far more likely to freeze. Not only can a dripping tap cause a lot of damage in the long run, you can also waste an enormous amount of water in this way.
Consider investing in drain unblocking or plumbing repair services to tackle these problems and ensure that you do not face any issues or large bills with your water supply over the winter months.
If you need any more advice on blocked drains or other plumbing problems, don't hesitate to call Dyno's experienced staff to make use of their professional expertise.
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