Keep your home cosy

Don't let the disaster that is a burst pipe happen in your home this winter. Follow Julia Gray's top tips for plumbing and heating

Protect your pipes

Going away during winter, can cause problems with your home's plumbing and central-heating system, so take precautions.

:: To help to prevent frozen pipes, set your boiler's timer (if it has one) so the heating comes on a couple of times a day when you're away, even if it's only for a short period. Some boilers have holiday modes that do this for you.

:: Alternatively, empty your home's water system, which is a good idea if you're going away for a long period. Shut off the water supply at the stopcock and drain the pipes by turning on the cold taps until the water stops running (if there's no water in them, it can't freeze). You should also flush the toilet several times to empty the cold-water storage tank.

:: Locate and label your home's main stopcock. This will be on the incoming water supply (rising main) and is often under the kitchen sink.

:: The stopcock can corrode over time, so check it's working properly by turning it from fully open to fully closed and back again a couple of times. Leave it half a turn from fully open (unless you're shutting off the water).

:: Make sure all your home's pipes and water-storage tanks are insulated, especially if they're in the loft (which should be insulated anyway). This will help to stop them from freezing, as well as saving energy. If you can bear the draught, open the loft hatch to warm up the loft in cold weather.