Edinburgh winters are long, damp and bitterly cold, and frozen pipes are one of the most common reasons our engineers are called out. Here is how to keep your heating safe and working when the temperature drops.
If you live in Edinburgh, you already know that winter here is not gentle. From the tenement flats of Marchmont and Leith to the homes out in Corstorphine and Portobello, properties across the city face weeks of freezing temperatures, sharp coastal winds and constant damp. For your heating system, that combination is the perfect recipe for trouble.
Frozen and burst pipes are among the most common emergencies our Gas Safe engineers attend each winter, and the frustrating part is that most of them are entirely preventable. A little preparation in autumn can save you from a cold home, a hefty repair bill and a great deal of stress in January.
Why Edinburgh homes are especially at risk
Many of Edinburgh’s most characterful properties are also its oldest. Traditional tenements and period homes often have pipework running through unheated stairwells, external walls and cold roof spaces. When the temperature outside drops below freezing for a sustained period, the water sitting in those exposed pipes can freeze, expand and crack the pipe.
The damage often goes unnoticed until the thaw arrives. As the ice melts, water escapes through the crack, and a small fracture can release a surprising amount of water into your home. In a flat, that water rarely stays put. It travels, and it can affect the neighbours below you too.
Insulate your exposed pipework
The single most effective step you can take is to insulate, or lag, any exposed pipes. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive, widely available and simple to fit. Pay particular attention to pipes in lofts, garages, under the floor and along external walls, as these are the first to freeze.
Do not forget the condensate pipe on a modern condensing boiler. This is the small plastic pipe that carries waste water away, and it is a very common freezing point. When it freezes, the boiler will often shut down and display a fault code. Lagging this pipe, especially the section that runs outside, can prevent a frustrating loss of heating on the coldest mornings.
Keep a gentle background heat
If you are away for a few days, resist the temptation to switch the heating off completely. Setting your thermostat to a low background temperature, around twelve to fifteen degrees, keeps a little warmth moving through the system and dramatically reduces the chance of anything freezing.
For those who are away for longer over the festive period, it is worth asking a trusted neighbour or friend to check on the property. Catching a problem early is always cheaper and less disruptive than returning to a flooded flat.
Service your boiler before the cold sets in
A boiler is far more likely to fail when it is being pushed hard during a cold snap. An annual service carried out in autumn gives an engineer the chance to spot worn parts, low pressure and small faults before they become a breakdown on the coldest day of the year.
A well maintained boiler also runs more efficiently, which matters when energy costs are high. The small cost of a service is easily offset by lower running costs and the peace of mind that your heating will keep going when you need it most.
Know what to do if a pipe does freeze
If you turn on a tap and nothing comes out, you may have a frozen pipe. Turn off your water at the stopcock to limit any damage when it thaws. You can gently warm the affected pipe with a hot water bottle or a warm towel, working from the end nearest the tap, but never use a naked flame or a blowtorch.
If a pipe has already burst, or you smell gas, or your boiler will not restart, do not take risks. Turn off the supply and call a qualified Gas Safe engineer. Quick, professional help can be the difference between a minor repair and serious damage to your home.
A warm home starts with preparation
Winter in Edinburgh is demanding, but your heating system does not have to suffer for it. Insulating your pipes, keeping a low background heat and booking an annual service are simple steps that protect your home and your wallet through the coldest months.
If you would like a Gas Safe engineer to check your system before winter, or you are facing a heating emergency, the Letsure team is here to help across Edinburgh. Book online or give us a call and we will get you sorted.