Boiler and central heating issues are common during cold weather, however, you could save yourself from frozen pipes with a quick trick.
An expert has advised that taking just 30 seconds tonight to do this simple hack, which anyone can do, will significantly lower your risk of frozen pipes.
It involves tending to plumbing pipes which are placed behind closed doors, such as in kitchen cabinets, as these are most vulnerable to freezing.
Simply opening up the closed doors separating your pipes from the rest of your home can help you to prevent frozen pipes, an expert from AS Plumbing and Gas told Express.co.uk.
“Being behind closed doors, kitchen plumbing frozen pipes are vulnerable, as the heat from the rest of the house can’t reach them,” said the expert.
He advised a simple solution to protect these particular pipes: “Open the cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate into the cabinets.”
If your home is particularly chilly, a strategically placed fan or heater may also be able to help.
“A fan or portable heater pointed inside the cabinet helps circulate warm air,” the expert explained.
Why do pipes freeze?
Frozen pipes occur when the temperatures outside drop to below zero degrees Celsius, meaning the water in your pipes become frozen too.
The water then expands within the pipe as it freezes, putting you at risk of burst or leaking pipes – and a sky high plumber bill to boot.
Frozen pipes are naturally more likely when the weather outside is particularly cold, for instance during this weekend’s snow forecast.
Is it cheaper to leave your central heating on all the time or turn it on and off? The issue is a popular debate.
Some believe it is better to control your thermostat by turning it up and down during the day, or putting it on a timer.
But what do the experts think about this issue? Sadly for some, Caitlin Bent – an energy expert at the Energy Saving Trust (EST), isn’t buying the “keep it on” philosophy.
“It’s a common myth that leaving the heating on low all day will help you save energy,” she told The Sun.
”In reality, it’s best to use a timer or programmer to make sure your home is only heated when you’re there.