Preparing Your Heating and Plumbing for Winter

At Nick Parris Heating Services, we help homeowners in Reading and the surrounding areas keep their heating and plumbing systems ready for colder weather. Here is where we suggest starting.

Turn your heating on before you need it

If your heating has been off throughout the summer, switch it on and let it run long enough to check that the boiler starts, the controls respond and the radiators begin to warm up. It is much easier to investigate a problem now than on the first freezing evening of the year.

Check that your thermostat and programmer are set as you expect. If you have thermostatic radiator valves, make sure the rooms you want to heat are not accidentally turned down.

Check how your radiators warm up

Walk around the house once the heating has been running for a while. A radiator that stays cold at the top may have trapped air and need bleeding. If it is cold at the bottom, or several radiators are slow to heat, there may be a circulation issue that needs investigating.

Some homeowners ask us whether they need a power flush before winter. It is not a routine job for every heating system. If radiators have persistent cold spots, the water is dirty when they are bled, or the system is struggling to circulate heat, we can assess the cause and advise whether power flushing would help.

Check your boiler service is up to date

An annual boiler service gives an engineer the opportunity to check its condition and identify developing issues. If yours is due, arranging it before the busiest part of winter is sensible. Check that your carbon monoxide alarms are working too.

If the boiler is showing an error, repeatedly losing pressure or making an unfamiliar noise, do not wait for it to stop working altogether. Tell us what you have noticed so we can advise on the next step.

Protect pipes in colder parts of the house

Pipes in lofts, garages and other unheated spaces are more exposed when temperatures fall. Check that accessible pipe insulation is secure, and pay attention to outside taps and any hoses left connected to them.

Find your internal stopcock and make sure everyone at home knows where it is. If a pipe leaks or bursts, being able to turn off the water quickly can limit the damage.

Going away over winter?

Before leaving for a winter holiday, consider how your home will stay warm enough to protect its pipework. Check your heating settings, particularly if you have pipes in colder areas, and make sure someone you trust can access the property if there is a problem.

If you plan to turn off the mains water or leave the house empty for an extended period, get advice that suits your plumbing and heating setup. Turning off the water does not replace the need to protect pipes from freezing.

A little preparation goes a long way

You do not need to wait for something to break before paying attention to your heating. Running the system early, checking the radiators and knowing how to shut off the water are simple steps that can make winter less stressful.

If you have spotted a problem or your boiler service is due, contact Nick Parris Heating Services. We can help you work out what needs attention before the colder weather arrives.