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KNOW YOUR VALVES

A stopcock is a valve and everyone in your household should know where your main stopcock is located. It is the valve on the main feed to your home and in an emergency everyone needs to know how to turn it off. It is often under the kitchen sink, while the stopcock for the storage tank, which feeds water into your cistern and bath will probably be in the bathroom, airing cupboard or in a bedroom.

Somewhere outside your house there will also be a mains shut off valve, make sure you know where it is, how to get to it and that it is operational. However, if a new drive surface or road has been laid, the hatch may become concealed. You should also know where the hot and cold valves are. They are usually in the airing cupboard or loft. Again, make sure they work.

If your pipes have frozen, turn off the stopcocks. If the pipeÕs split, drain the cold water by opening the cold taps, by flushing the toilet or by siphoning water from the cistern. If the pipe isnÕt split, thaw it out slowly with hot water bottles or a hair dryer. Lagging pipes with foam pipe protectors will help prevent freezing.

If you have a burst pipe and the water cannot be stopped immediately, open all cold taps to drain the pipes. DonÕt turn on the hot taps, but do turn off the central heating and electric immersion heaters.

If you are unsure of the whereabouts of any of the valves or stopcocks mentioned above, ask your plumber next time he visits. You may need to fit additional isolation valves on your water / heating system - which would assist in emergency situations and can help to prevent unnecessary damage to your home in case of a plumbing emergency.

CONSERVE WATER

The average family uses 160 litres of water a day in the home for cooking, drinking and washing. By putting the plug in your basin or sink instead of leaving hot water running straight down the drain you are saving money and helping protect the environment by conserving water. A hosepipe can use up to 100 litres of water an hour, so wash your car with a bucket and sponge.

A five minute shower uses approximately a third of the water of a bath and you don't need scalding hot water, most families set their cylinder thermostat at 60¡C/140¡F which is fine for bathing and washing.

Heat rises and most heat escapes through your roof, so insulate your loft and ensure your pipes are lagged correctly.

During the average cycle, a washing machine uses up to 100 litres of water, so only use your washing machine when you have a full load.

Do leave dripping taps or ball valves unchecked, its a sign that your plumbing system requires maintenance and just one drip per second wastes 15 litres of water per day. Over time water drips can also stain your bath or sink and could cause permanent damage to a tap seating.

AVOID BLOCKAGES

Scraps of food from the kitchen sink should be removed before they have the chance to build up and cause a blockage. When flushing a toilet, do not flush sanitary towels, disposable nappies or kitchen rolls. Hair and grime that gathers in the bath or shower plug hole should be removed before it causes a blockage problem.

Grease, soap and slime build-up - a gradual build-up of any of these substances can cause stoppages. Grease from cooking, for example chip pans, should never be poured straight down the sink. The grease as it cools will stick to the side of the waste pipe and build up causing problems later on. Always dilute such substances with water.

A WARM HOME AND BE ENERGY WISE

Fitting thermostatic radiator valves in all rooms you will enable you to control room temperatures independently, therefore reducing wastage and cost by not heating rooms unnecessarily.

Its important to keep warm in winter, but is your heating too high. Check your timer/ programmer is set correctly to allow for the season. By turning your thermostat down by just 1¡c could cut your heating bills. Should you decide to go on a holiday over winter season, leave the thermostat on a low setting to provide protection from freezing, giving peace of mind at a minimal cost.

Ensure that all exposed pipes and storage systems are fully insulated, especially those in the loft region. If its a cold winter and you become concerned about pipes becoming frozen, open up the hatch to the loft space to allow some heat to rise through from the house.

It is advisable to have your boiler serviced annually, but keep in mind that the winter season can be an extremely busy time for CORGI registered engineers with installations and breakdowns, so the summer is the best time. If you have an older style boiler causing problems, it maybe a more cost effective option to install a modern combination or condensing boiler, as they can be more energy efficient.

If you have a requirement to call an engineer and the problem is related to gas, make sure he is CORGI registered. A registered engineer should carry his registration card with him at all times, so if in doubt, ask to see his CORGI registration card. Alternatively, you can contact CORGI to check that your engineer is registered.

BE PREPARED

Fit a carbon-monoxide alarm Lag your pipes Have your boiler checked annually Locate your stop valve Keep emergency numbers listed by your phone Buy essential tools, such as a wrench and torch Ensure your family knows how to behave in an emergency

SMELL GAS?

Turn the gas supply off immediately at the meter Extinguish all sources of ignition Do not smoke Do not operate electrical light or power switches If necessary, ventilate the building by opening windows and doors Ensure access to the premises can be made

REPORT GAS ESCAPES TO TRANSCO ON: 0800 111 999

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