This is because the Changes to the outside of our homes can actually affect the inside. And as temperatures remain low, it's crucial we stay on top of things.
The reminder comes as Toolstation have warned homeowners that insufficiently insulated condensate pipes are likely to freeze up and cause boilers to stop working.
Talking to Toolstation, Heating Engineer at Seven Heating, Lorenzo Giove, explained just how common the issue is during the colder months, stating he was called and texted nearly 100 times by customers with the same issue - a frozen condensate pipe.
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He explained: “The condensate pipe is the external pipe which carries acidic water waste from the boiler out of the house to an external drain. When it becomes blocked with ice, your boiler stops working.”
To prevent this from happening, Lorenzo added: “In the first instance, the easiest way to prevent a frozen condensate pipe is to lag the pipe. It’s a cheap and easy way of preventing issues when the weather really starts to bite. With particularly cold weather expected until Thursday this week, I’d recommend doing this as soon as possible.”
A spokesperson from Toolstation explains just how easy and affordable this is to do - and it can cost as little as 99p.
The spokesperson said: “Pipe insulation can be purchased for less than £1. A metre length of our most affordable insulation wrap costs just 99p and its thick foam cuts heat loss by up to 70%, protecting against frost and freezing. All you need to do is wrap some insulation around the pipe. You may like to use cable ties to ensure it’s fastened on tightly.”
If it’s too late though, a kettle should be all you need. As Lorenzo explains: “Generally speaking, a boiler will flash up a fault code if the condensate pipe has frozen and caused an issue. Head outside and locate the waste pipe coming from the exterior wall. Cover the pipe in something like a tea towel and pour over several rounds of boiling water. The towels will help retain the heat from the hot water and you will start to hear the cracking of the ice. Hopefully, all being well, it will get things moving and working again. Hot water did the trick for most people who contacted me when it was cold in December.”
Affordable kettles can be found on both the Argos and Currys webiste.
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