How To Avoid Frozen And Burst Water Pipes

The biggest emergency plumbing insurance claim over winter is ‘escape of water’, largely due to frozen and  burst water pipes. People leaving their home unoccupied or landlords with vacant properties should keep the heating on or make sure the heating system has been drained by a professional plumber to avoid frozen pipes. If you require plumbing services in Dublin and the surrounding areas call us on 01-6105650 or 087-9861621 for immediate assistance.

Plumbing tips to avoid frozen pipes.   Here are my simple plumbing tips on how to avoid burst water pipes this winter.

1. Make sure water tanks and pipes in the loft are insulated with good quality lagging.
2. Check and bleed your radiators.
3. Make sure everyone in the home or property knows where the stopcock is and make sure that it works!
4. Checks taps for dripping and repair now (to avoid frozen pipes).
5. Once the cold weather settles in, leave any loft door open to circulate heated air.
6. If you are going away over winter switch heating to a low setting to help heat pipes. Remember to ask a friend or relative to check the while you are away, so that any burst pipes may be detected as soon as possible.

Emergency plumbing Property Repair provides 24 / 7 emergency plumbing in Dublin and the surrounding area's.
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​How To Check Your Roof

Your roof is your first line of defence against wind, rain and snow. However, as roof repairers, we know that most people don’t give their roof a second thought until they hear the tell-tale ‘chatter’ of tiles or slates as they rattle in the wind. Inspecting your roof now could prevent costs later on in the year. Furthermore, if you are thinking about selling your property it makes sense to make sure your roof is in good condition before you put it on the market.

5 tips for checking your roof

1. Start inside your property. 
Take a torch and go into the attic or loft if accessible. Look out for:

• Damp spots on loft insulation or beams
• Signs of leaking or water damage
• Outside light showing through the roof
• Dark spots
• Places where the roof is sagging
• Rusting metal work or mould

2. Go outside and walk round your property. Look for any tiles or slates that have fallen from the roof to the ground. Pieces of broken mortar on the ground is a sign there may be damage.

3. Look at the exterior of your building. Do not walk on the roof or the tiles will break. If you are scanning from ground level use binoculars. Look at your roof and check for:

• Broken, cracked or loose tiles
• Gaps in the mortar joints as you scan the ridge against the skyline
• Tiles of different colours which might indicate some have slipped or been dislodged
• Wear around chimneys, pipes, lead flashings and gutters where your roof is most vulnerable to leaks

4. Examine drains and gutters. Make sure they are not blocked with leaves or debris and are attached securely.

5. Check your roof twice a year. Check it in late autumn to remove leaves and to make sure it is weather proof before winter weather sets in. Inspect it again after heavy rain or storms. Signs of water will alert you to any problems in your roof.

If you find broken tiles or signs of water damage don’t assume you will need a new roof. Often your roof can simply be repaired. Once your roof is repaired it will allow you to stay snug for many years to come.

Property Repair provide a free roof and gutter survey* for all properties in Dublin and surrounding area's. So, if in doubt, call 01-6105650 and we’ll come out to your home or business and check the roof and guttering for you.

Leak Detection

Here is a good example of our efficient leak detection service. Sean called us following a recommendation from his plumber. His heating system was causing him problems due to a leak under his concrete floor . His plumber knew there must be a leak somewhere, however there was no damage or any signs of a leak. The only indication was the fact that his header tank in his attic was filling constantly. 
Sean has 3 young kids, so his heating is very important. 

What HAPPENS Next

Property Repair sprung into action and were able to pinpoint the exact location of the leak within a few hours using our ultrasonic ground microphones. Our fully trained technicians removed the floor tiles, broke up a section concrete to expose the pipe and carried out the necessary repairs to the pipework. Sean's Heating was back up and running within hours.
The Next Step
The next step is to submit a detailed estimate to Sean's Insurance company ( Allianz). Upon approval, Property Repair will return to Sean's house and carry out all the necessary repair work including new tiled floors, Oak skirting boards and the full redecoration of his Kitchen / Dining room.

Property Repair are  specialists in Leak Detection, Property Drying and Repair. You can call us anytime on 016105650.

What To Do If You Discover A Burst Water Pipe

​Cold winter weather increases the risk of frozen and burst pipes for home owners and landlords.

If you discover a frozen or burst pipe call a professional emergency plumber and read my brief post outlining how to minimise the damage.

Tips for burst pipes

If a pipe freezes:

• Turn off your stopcock and if possible wait until the pipe thaws out.
• We advise against DIY thawing because of the pressure that builds up in the pipe and because we have seen some dangerous methods used by home owners. However, it is possible to encourage the thaw gently using towels soaked in warm water.
• NEVER use a heat gun or blow torch.
• Remove furniture and carpet (where practical) near to the frozen pipe. This will minimise damage if the pipe bursts.

If a pipe bursts:

• Switch off your main water supply by turning off the stopcock. Your stopcock is typically found under the kitchen sink or where your service pipe enters the property.
• Switch off the central heating to avoid further damage.
• Open all taps to drain the system and flush your toilets.
• Contact your home insurer for advice. Most provide 24 hour emergency helplines that will arrange for repairs to be carried out as soon as possible.
• Catch dripping water in buckets.
• If the ceiling has been leaking and there is bulging do not enter the room it may not be safe.
• Call in a professional plumber to repair your burst water pipes. Get in touch with your property insurer as soon as possible.

Property Repair provides a total repair service. This means that our emergency plumber can fix your burst pipe and our all trades team can repair any damage caused by water such as burst ceilings and saturated walls.

Our total care solution for damaged caused by burst water pipes and leaks includes:

• Insurance company quote
• Water removal and drying
• Joist and floor replacement
• Ceiling and wall relining and plasterwork
• Floor covering
• Painting and decorating
• Refitting and installing replacement kitchen and bathroom units
• Electrical repairs and checks