UK households urged to do do 1 simple check before winter to save money | Personal Finance | Finance

The Met Office has advised Brits to make this simple check in their homes to ensure properties are prepared for winter.

Temperatures across the UK have plummeted dramatically, with recent weather forecasts predicting freezing conditions to affect various regions soon. As a result, the weather forecaster has instructed Brits to do various things ahead of winter, including minimising the risk of frozen and burst pipes.

The Met Office said: “It’s important to make sure water pipes and water tanks in the loft are insulated with good quality lagging. This will not only protect from freezing, but it will help insulate your hot water system and save you money.”

Home retailer B&Q explains that lagging prevents water pipes from freezing and helps any exposed hot water pipes retain their heat when running through unheated parts of the house.

Water pipes in the loft are more prone to freezing because although floor insulation in the loft will keep your house warmer, it traps the heat in the main part of the house, therefore making the loft space colder. This is why it is essential to protect pipes by lagging them.

Fortunately, performing the task is relatively straightforward.

The first step is to fit the pipe insulation by opening a length of it along the pre-marked split and sliding it onto the pipe. ” If you have pipes coming up through the loft floor or running along the joists, fold back the loft insulation, fit the pipe tube and then put the insulation back in place,” B&Q added.

Once you’ve continued insulating the whole length of the pipe run, it’s time to insulate the pipe bends. This is done by cutting the pipe insulation when you come to a bend. Place the length of the pipe insulation in a mitre box and cut a 45-degree angle with a tenon saw.

“Butt the two cut lengths as close together as possible and tape the join using duct tape to ensure minimal heat loss,” B&Q continued.

When it comes to any obstructions, make a cut to one side of it and then a horizontal cut so the pipe insulation can wrap around the object.

Then, finally, cut and place a small length of pipe tube over the tap handle and cover it with tape to hold it in place.