Know Where Your Stopcock Is

The stopcock in your home is one of the most important to need to be aware of. It's sometimes referred to as the stop valve or a stop tap, but basically this is the point in your home where you can turn off the water supply to your home. Each property has two, one inside and the other located externally.

You should learn where they are located in the case of emergency. If a pipe bursts in your bathroom and your home begins to flood, knowing where the stopcock is quickly can help to minimise the damage that can occur. It is usually located under the kitchen sink or in the airing cupboard of your home and is very easy to operate. Simply all you need to do is turn the valve in a clockwise motion to stop the water supply. However, if you notice a problem with the stopcock, make sure to contact an experienced plumber to fix the problem.

Don’t Ignore Leaks

You would be amazed to know just how much water you can lose from a dripping tap or shower head. According to Top Trades People, leaks can add an additional £300 onto your water bill. That's a lot of money.

There are a few things you can look out for, that likely mean a leak is occurring in your home:

• Check the water usage for any big increases. You can ask your water company to send you statements of your water use and analyse the numbers.
• Drops in water pressure when running a bath can indicate a leak. You can check the water pressure in your home by turning off all fixtures, before turning one back on. If there is an increase in pressure then there is likely a leak somewhere along the line.
• Waterlogged areas in your garden can show a leaking pipe underground.
• If your boiler is constantly running it could also indicate a leak, which is something all homeowners should keep an eye out for.

Winterise Your Pipes

This is a simple DIY job that can save you a fortune. This means ensuring the pipes in your plumbing system are protected from the sudden changes in weather. Pipe insulation supplies are available from all good DIY stores and can be fitted quickly and simply in an afternoon.

Here are some tips to winterising your pipes:

• Insulate pipes with insulation sleeves, wrapping or using slip-on foam pipe insulation. It's important not to leave any gaps without insulation as cold air can affect the pipe in these spaces.
• Inspect the exterior of the property, making sure that all visible cracks are sealed. This is because cold air can enter through the cracks and, once inside, can cause the pipes to freeze.

To learn more about winterising your pipes, click HERE.

Take Care Of Your Toilet

Everyone should know how what can and can’t be flushed down the toilet, as well as ensuring they know how to spot signs of a problem early.

For flushing, only toilet paper. Never flush wipes, paper towels or cotton swabs (NOTE: don't flush "flushable wipes" down the toilet, they do not break down as quickly as toilet paper do). These will lead to blockages and may result in you needing to call a plumber. Investing in a plunger is wise, as eventually a minor blockage will take place, and this is a handy DIY fix to a small blockage problem.

Know When You Need A Professional

There are a few plumbing jobs around the home that are straightforward and can be done by anyone, but there are jobs that require a higher level of DIY skill and expertise. While anyone can unblock a sink, you may not feel comfortable fixing or replacing a leaking toilet. That’s when it’s time to call Assett Plumbing and get one of our expert plumbers to do the job for you.

Get in contact today and let us fix the plumbing jobs you have right now!