Reactive Blog #17 - Burst/Frozen Pipe Fixes

Why Freezing Pipes Burst

Not all freezing/frozen pipes burst. But when they do it's because water expands when it freezes, this adds a lot of pressure to the pipes. That pressure can cause a serious leak, unleashing flowing water into your home.

Water damage from burst pipes is one of the most common homeowner's insurance claims, with an average claim cost of about £3,000.

How to Identify Freezing Pipes

A water line coated in frost is a clear sign that it’s frozen. However, not all plumbing pipes are visible. If your taps don’t flow and your toilets won’t refill after a flush, that’s another clear sign your pipes are frozen.

How to Defrost a Frozen Pipe

Before you start anything, please shut off the water supply. It is best you do this for the entire house because the real trouble begins after the defrost. That’s because the frozen may be blocking lots of water from spilling out of the cracks in the pipes. When a blockage is removed water will come flowing out. It is best that you are ready at the scene with ready a mop, large bucket, and a few towels, just in case there’s an issue.

A good way to defrost the pipes is with a mini heater, heat lamp, or hair dryer, however, you will have to take serious precautions with this as we all know electric and water do not mix very well. Wrapping freezing pipes with thermostatically heat tape is also an effective way to quickly sort the problem.

Don’t defrost a pipe using a propane torch.

What to Do if a Pipe Bursts

If you walk in to discover burst pipes, immediately you should shut off the main water supply to reduce the flooding. Next, call your plumber whilst doing so or straight after.

Dry out the area using mops and towels to minimize mould, mildew, and other moisture-related problems, run a dehumidifier in the area until it’s very dry (if you have one).

Still having troubles?

If you are still experiencing issues you can contact us at: http://www.reactiveinsurance.co.uk/about/#contactus

Reactive Blog #15 - Cold Weather Boiler Fixes

Cold Weather Boiler Fixes

So it's probably been a while since you’ve used your boiler now. We had a great summer but it's now time for the cold winter. You may experience boiler issues if you haven’t used it in a while, so here are some tips that may help you fix it before you call someone out to help.

Double check the basics

First things first: check the basics. If you have a prepayment meter system or a top-up key, check that you’ve got enough credit on it for it to work.

If this is not the case, then you should next test whether your other gas appliances, such as the cooking hob, are working properly. The switches in your fuse box may have tripped and may need resetting.

Think back to if you’ve had a power cut recently

Have you had a power cut recently? Your boiler’s timer might have reset itself. Fixing it and getting it working back to normal again should be as simple as putting in the correct time settings again. If you do not know how to do this, take a look at the instruction manual and there should be an easy-to-follow guide.

Check your boiler’s pressure gauge

If the boiler is showing a reading of one bar or less, then it is probably to do with the pressure being too low, as this can prevent the boiler from working. Topping up the pressure yourself is usually straightforward - follow the steps in your boiler’s manual.

Turn your room thermostat to 21 degrees or higher

Reset your boiler, or check that it's pilot light is on

Having the thermostat set lower than 19-21 degrees can stop your heating from coming on, so turn it higher to see if your boiler starts working again.

               

Still having troubles?

If you are still experiencing issues you can contact us at: http://www.reactiveinsurance.co.uk/about/#contactus

Reactive Blog #14 - Cold Weather Life Hacks

Cold Weather Life Hacks

As the weather keeps getting colder and colder, we need to do even more to try and stay warm, keep away from colds and stop things from freezing. This can come at a cost, with heated blankets and similar products being rather expensive. Here are some quick and easy life hacks on how to survive the cold!

Clearing a Driveway Full of Ice/Snow

Clearing a path or driveway full of snow or ice can be a long process, especially if it's only a thin layer, as it makes it a lot harder to shovel away properly. To fix this, you should use a large brush instead of a shovel and simply just brush it all away.

Non-Stick Spray on a Shovel

For thicker snow that can’t be brushed away, a great tip for clearing snow is adding non-stick spray onto the end of the shovel to stop the snow from sliding off and breaking apart when moving it. This will save you a lot of time and frustration when moving snow away on the cold mornings.

Utilising Excess Heat from the Oven After Cooking/Baking

Cold evenings are the worst. It can be hard to stay warm and relax without having half a dozen blankets on top of you. To save money on your heating bill, you can leave your oven slightly open after cooking/baking food to make use of the access heat. However, this is only suitable for electric ovens, as it may not be safe with gas.

Foam Pipe Insulator on the Bottom of the Door

Another way to keep warm on cold and windy nights is to prevent door draughts, trapping the heat inside your room. Instead of buying an expensive draught stopper, you can just slide a foam pipe insulator on the bottom of your doors. That will keep you warm for sure!

Winter colds – Vicks Vaporub in the Shower

The most annoying thing that comes along with cold weather is catching colds. It seems like they are neverending. You can prevent this by bringing some Vicks Vaporub in the shower with you, as it mixes with the hot air and clears your throat and nose. It is one of the most effective ways to use the product and it will keep them colds away for sure!