Just in case the expected cold weather arrives, are there any tips for avoiding cold related problems?

[mumat39]

Now that I've asked this I'm sure to have jinxed the weather and it will be mild.

But, just in case it does get very cold with temps not getting much above zero, what do we need to do to keep the heating working and to ensure we have hot water.

Does the car just need screen wash with a de-iced in it?

We've been in our house for a few years but haven't yet had a bitterly cold winter here yet so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

De-icer.

For your car - if it is not in the garage: I put up a sheet across the windscreen and rear windscreen and tucked into the car doors to hold it down - that way in the morning the windscreens are clear and I don't have to bother de-icing.

For your home - make sure your radiators are on even if they are not opened fully that way it ensures none of the pipes freeze. If it is extremely cold in order to prevent water pipes freezing my parents would leave the hot water tap in both bathrooms to slowly drip but that was only when it was super cold.

if you have a condensing boiler, there have been issues with the outlet pipe for the condensate freezing up. But it was bloody cold in 2010-11 so if it didn't happen then, you are fine.

Same winter I had my screen wash freeze, despite temperature being above what it said it was proof to! Main thing is of course that the engine block doesn't freeze, but unless you drive a real vintage car all modern coolants/antifreezes should be fine.

Thank you both.

I forgot about antifreeze. And didn't know about leaving heating on to stop pipes freezing.

The sheet sounds like a good idea.

Thanks.

If you have an outside tap, turn off the supply to it and open the tap to empty it. Then it can't freeze and burst .