1). A perished washer in your water cistern will fail eventually. If you need to use a wrench chrome work you should cover first to prevent scratches.2) Find your main stopcock is so that it can be isolated if need be. Catford Plumbers can show you the location. Many valves seize up over time if theyre not operated so get into the habit of turning them off and on again a few times a year to keep them in working order. 3).Waste water pipes should be checked at regular intervals. Bath and shower drains can block with hair. Many drains have a removable filter which can be cleaned easily. If you need to clear a drain use a plunger rather than chemicals. Outside drains van easily block with leaves etc. Fit a leaf guard if possible and run a hose to check flow once a year.4). Ensure any pipe work exposed to freezing conditions is properly insulated. Check pipes in the loft and basement if relevant. If you have an outside tap, isolate it during the cold weather. Check the connections at each end of the hoses as well to make sure there are no drips as they can carry high volumes of water.5). Having your boiler serviced will make sure its working at its best and safety checks will be carried out to make sure there are no poisonous gases. If you can see the flame in the boiler it should be blue, a yellow flame would indicate a problem. 6). Hard water areas develop lime scale deposits around taps and showerheads. Vinegar is a great solution for cleaning a lime scale build up. There are plenty of other areas where lime scale can build up, pipes, washing machines, dishwashers, boilers and heating systems. If your budget allows consider fitting a water softener. A Catford Plumber can fit this.
