Keep your home warm and safe during the colder months
Ahead of the colder months of the year, Bradley Barker is back with some tips on things you can do to help keep your home warmer and more energy efficient.
Bradley Barker, Asset Compliance Delivery Manager
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Things to check this winter
Try tap lagging
To avoid pipes from freezing in the cold weather, lagging is a good idea. This is when insulation material is wrapped around exposed plumbing, such as outdoor taps. It can help to avoid costly damage from burst pipes caused by frozen water. You can use insulation foam material to wrap around your pipes, or you can buy an outside tap cover, which can be found in most high street home stores. You can find videos on YouTube that show you how to lag your pipes yourself.
An outside tap cover
Check your radiators
You should check your radiators often, but especially before the colder months. Checking helps you identify issues ahead of time, and fixing these issues lead to lower energy bills, and a warmer home.
To check your radiators, first you’ll need to turn your heating on and carefully feel each one.
Radiator issue: trapped air
If the radiator feels cold at the top but warm at the bottom, there could be trapped air. If this has only occurred on one radiator, you can ‘bleed’ it yourself. You will need a radiator key, which can be bought from a DIY store.
- Turn off the heating and allow the radiators to cool down – this could take up to two hours
- Find the air vent- it will be at the top of the radiator
- Use a radiator key to gently open the vent by turning anticlockwise
- Release air until water flows out steadily
- Close the valve by using the radiator key again and turning clockwise. If you have more than one radiator in your home with this issue please call TSG, our gas, heating and hot water contractor, directly on 0800 111 4044. They will be able to support in bleeding all radiators to make sure your boiler pressure doesn’t drop.
Radiator issue: valve faults
If you can feel cold spots in the radiator, or if it feels cold throughout, the Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) pin could be stuck. You can fix this by following these steps:
- Remove the TRV head by unscrewing it
- Once the head has been removed, you will see a pin. Gently tap the pin until it frees – it should move up and down smoothly
- Refit the TRV head and turn the heating back on.
If you are unable to free the pin by gently tapping on it, please report the problem to TSG. It is important that you do not pull the pin out since this can cause hot water to leak out.
A radiator TRV head.
Radiator issue: sludge build-up
If the radiator feels hot at the top but cold at the bottom, this often means there could be sludge or debris blocking the flow of hot water. You will need to report this to TSG so they can identify the issue and resolve it.
Reporting a problem
All repairs to gas heating and hot water systems are dealt with by TSG. They can be contacted directly on 0800 111 4044 at any time - you do not need to speak with us first.
You can report general repairs via my.account, WhatsApp, email, or by calling our Customer Communications Centre. For non-urgent repairs, email repairs@bpha.org.uk. For emergency repairs, outside working hours, call 0330 100 0272 and follow the instructions.
If you avoid switching on your heating because of utility debt, please speak to us. Our Money Advice Team is here to help.