Top tips for keeping safe this winter

Cold weather can damage homes and belongings but you can help avoid problems and protect the property by following these tips to keep the heat in:

• If you have an attic, leave the door open slightly to allow heat into the roof space
• If you have a water tank in your attic, cover it with a blanket to prevent the water freezing
• Keep your curtains closed at night to prevent heat escaping.
  
  

Frozen pipes

This is the most common problem during extremely cold weather but can also be one of the easiest things to prevent.

Keep your home warm at all times by keeping your heating on at a low temperature, this will minimise the risk of your water pipes freezing or causing them to burst.

Check all dripping taps and overflows and if you have to report a fault please keep the plug in the sink to prevent water freezing in the waste pipes.

If you find that you have no cold water during cold weather, unfortunately this usually means your pipes have frozen. At this point, as there is nothing that can be done until the weather improves, you should locate your stopcock and turn off the water supply. If you do not know where your stopcock is please contact a neighbour, call Capricorn Properties or the emergency numbers (if the office is closed) as they may be able to suggest places it could be located. Finding the stopcock is vital as there is a possibility that when the pipes defrost there could be flooding, not only in your home, but in the property below (if you live on the first floor or above).

If you find that one of your pipes have burst please:

• 1.Turn off the water supply at the main stopcock, the electricity supply at the mains and the water heater.
• 2.Turn on all the taps to drain your system. If you can, collect the water in the bath for washing and flushing the toilet.
• 3.Warn your neighbours in case it affects them.
• 4.Phone Capricorn Properties (or the emergency contractor if it happens outside office hours).

Preventing condensation

Condensation is a problem at this time of year when warm moist air (eg steam) comes into contact with either a cold surface or air. It is a problem particularly in homes where warm air moves from warm rooms into colder areas which may not have been heated. The following are things to remember to prevent condensation:

• Keep your heating on low during the day, this allows the home to stay at a constant temperature
• Ensure rooms that are at risk of condensation are sufficiently heated and ventilated.
• Use your curtains as insulation! They can prevent heat loss at night when closed and can help warm cold rooms when left open on a sunny day.
• If you have rooms which receive a lot of sunlight during the day, keep the doors open. This ensures any warm air can circulate around the house.
• Ensure air can circulate round the home by ensuring furniture is not kept hard against walls and radiators
  
  
  
  

A few other things to keep in mind:

• If you are drying clothes inside always keep a nearby window open and don’t put damp clothes onto a warm radiator to dry

• If possible keep the kitchen door closed if you are cooking as well as keeping lids on pots to prevent any steam from escaping. If you have an extractor fan, make sure you use it.
• If you have a bath or shower keep the door closed and use an extractor fan if you have one.
• If using a tumble dryer, make sure the hose is positioned out of the window or door

Contact Numbers

Office: 045 838866 or 01 6854888

Mobile: 086 6044806 (James Connolly)

Emergency: 086 2428740 (Aidan Kinsella)