News
Wrap your business up this winter (15/12/11)
Christmas is just days away, but as businesses shut up shop for the festive period South Staffs Water is urging bosses to ensure they don't return to work to find their workplace flooded. Last winter's record low temperatures saw customers throughout the area suffer the inconvenience, mess and cost caused by frozen pipes, so this year, the company is offering advice in an attempt to prevent this. For businesses, the most important thing is to ensure pipes are well lagged and the loft properly insulated.
"Realising that you have a burst pipe is miserable – especially if it floods your business premises," said SSW's Head of Customer Engagement, Barbara Julye. “Damage could run into thousands of pounds if you need to replace equipment, stock and furnishings, plus there's the cost of having the pipe fixed too. "It all takes up time to organise and get done – and you could lose business if you can't work effectively in your premises. But by taking steps now, you can hopefully avoid the pain of burst pipes."
Top tips from South Staffs Water include:
- Ensure the loft is well insulated, including the cold water tank –but only insulate the sides and top of the tank as insulating it underneath will prevent warm air from the house reaching the tank and may cause it to freeze.
- Leave the trapdoor into the loft slightly open during the winter to allow warm air in.
- Repair dripping taps to prevent drips freezing and blocking the pipe.
- Insulate outside taps, or turn them off and drain them at their isolation valve – with the tap left open to allow ice to escape.
- If you are shutting down for a few daysover Christmas, leave the central heating on low at the thermostat or at least set it to come on twice a day to warm up the pipework.
- Make sure you know where your stop tap is (often under the kitchen sink if there is one or in a groundfloor toilet) as well as isolation valves used to turn off water to the hot water system and outside taps.
- If you have cold water pipes in unheated areas like warehouses and workshops, including pipes that lead to a water meter, ensure all are adequately lagged as this is one area of the house that is not usually heated.
- Before winter sets in it's a good idea to have your boiler serviced, check radiators for cold spots and bleed them if necessary.
Should you have no running water during the winter, ask neighbouring businesses if they have – if their taps are working as normal, your pipes may be frozen. More information is available at www.south-staffs-water.co.uk, including a list of recommended plumbers.
