The straightforward tip is particularly useful when dealing with problems caused by cold weather
If frozen pipes have you reaching for the phone to call an engineer, think again. British Gas has shared a simple method that could fix the problem – and it takes just 60 seconds.
The energy supplier, which powers millions of homes across the UK, recently posted a tutorial on Instagram about the trick. An expert at the firm explained that it’s especially beneficial if central heating fails or your boiler stops working during bouts of cold weather.
“Boiler cut out? Before you call an engineer, grab one of these,” the specialist said while pointing to a hot water bottle. She continued: “This is a 60-second fix that could save you an engineer callout.
“Boilers off, and it’s freezing outside? It might just be this little pipe that’s causing you problems. Fill a hot water bottle or jug with some warm water, not boiling.”
Using warm water is especially important in these incidents to avoid damaging anything. Once the bottle is filled, place it over the affected pipe to allow the temperatures inside to increase.
The expert continued: “Once thawed, go inside to your boiler and try resetting it to see if it’s done the trick. And there you go. If it happens again, feel free to give us a call and stay warm this winter.”
Last winter, more than 1.2 million customers called on British Gas engineers to fix broken boilers and get their heating and hot water systems back up and running.
If you suspect a burst pipe, indicated by a sudden drop in water pressure, damp patches, or water marks on walls and floors, immediately turn off the water supply at the stopcock.
Open all the taps to drain the system and leave the supply off until a qualified engineer can evaluate and repair the damage. Joanna Flowers, a British Gas service and repair engineer, also said recently: “Frozen pipes are one of the most common issues we see during cold snaps, but the good news is they’re usually simple to sort out if you act quickly.
“If you do run into any issues and you call before 11am, one of our engineers will be with you the same day.” Nonetheless, the easiest way to avoid costly repairs caused by frozen pipes is to prevent them from freezing in the first place.
Wrapping pipes with affordable insulation from a DIY store helps preserve heat and minimise heat loss. Further online advice from British Gas explains: “Insulating your pipes and water tanks is one of the best ways to prevent them from freezing.
“You can buy inexpensive pipe lagging and tank jackets from most DIY stores and fit them yourself for free. Just make sure you check the pipe and tank measurements first.”
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