Winter may not officially start until 21st December, but temperatures are now beginning to tumble. Freezing weather could be with us at any time, so make sure your plumbing system is protected. The last thing you want is a burst pipe on Christmas Day!

The professional body for the UK plumbing and heating industry, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), has issued the following advice:

• If you have water pipes in your roof space or attic, check them out to make sure they are effectively insulated. It’s best to buy the foam insulation that wraps snugly around the pipe.
• Usually, people are not aware of when a pipe freezes until it begins to thaw. Make sure you know where the stop-valves (sometimes called stop-cocks) are located. By turning off the water supply swiftly, you could save a lot of water damage to your furnishings and property.

Bryan Clark, Technical and Education Manager says: “The stop-valve controls the water entering your home and is often sited under the kitchen sink, but it depends on where the service point enters the property. Sometimes you will have an additional stop-valve in your loft or airing cupboard. If you can’t find the internal valve don’t worry, you can still turn off the water at the external valve, which may be under a cover in your garden or path.

“A good tip is to find these stop valves and label them before any plumbing emergencies occur. Try to gently turn them off and back on again. If it won’t budge, don’t force it - you’ll need to get a plumber to replace it.”

The Easter bank holiday weekend is almost here. That, along with the brighter evenings, usually brings out the DIY in many of us. However, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) says there are some jobs that should only be left to a professional to carry out.

Changing a tap washer is one thing, but when it comes to more complex plumbing jobs you need to know what you are doing, otherwise you could cause serious damage to your home and possibly be fined for breaking Water Regulations (Water Byelaws in Scotland).

You may be trying to save money by ‘having a go’, but when it comes to plumbing and heating, mistakes could threaten the health and safety of all those within your home. Water contamination, scalding and even gas explosion are all realistic outcomes of incompetent DIY.

How safe is your home? Find the hidden dangers in your area.
See the map at Gas Safe's website:  http://www.staygassafe.co.uk/

The following tips may help you reduce the risk of a plumbing emergency and could save unnecessary expense and distress. Also watch the videos at the foot of the page.

• Find out where your stop valve is located on the incoming water supply main and label it. Check occassionally that it is working.
• Whilst you are looking find where other service valves are located? Label them and check from time to time that they are working correctly.
• Find the location of any drain valves on the system too. These can be used in an emergency to empty your water and central heating systems (once the source of heat has been put out).
• Ensure that the storage system and exposed pipes are properly insulated, particularly in the roof space or attic.
• In very cold weather take special care to prevent water pipes becoming frozen. If you have a storage cistern in the roof space, it’s a good idea to leave the hatch open. Heat from the house will help to keep the cistern and pipes from freezing.
• Inspect your cold water storage cistern (tank) regularly and, if it is metal, make sure it is not corroding. Call in your Regsitered Plumbing Professional if there is any sign of a problem.
• Check the condition of flexible hosepipes to plumbed-in domestic appliances at regular  intervals.
• Dripping taps or continuously running overflow pipes are a sure sign that your plumbing system requires maintenance. To avoid them becoming major problems call in the services of your local Registered Plumbing Professional.
• Have central heating boilers and other heating appliances serviced yearly.
• If you have a condensing boiler, make sure that the condensate pipework is protected against freezing.
• Make a note of your Registered Plumbing or Heating Professional telephone number for future reference.

The Plumbing and Heating Engineering Sector (along with other mechanical engineering services), as a result of climate change and commitments under the Kyoto Agreement, will be subject to a series of regulatory changes over the next decade; introducing requirements for the integration of sustainable technologies into new buildings.

The Code for Sustainable Homes already sets requirements for water consumption and energy efficiency, and changes to the Building Regulations in 2009 (Part G), will introduce per person water consumption limits (maximum 125 litres per person per day), and amendments to Part L from 2010 onwards will introduce requirements for energy efficiency best practice, and the incorporation of renewable technology.

Central heating and energy efficiency top the nation's list of top 20 ‘must-have' home features, according to new research from Gocompare.com Home Insurance. Today's house hunters are more likely to be sold on the idea of properties with an efficient central heating system (73%), double glazing (72%) and secure doors and windows (71%), than characterful features. Only nine per cent of those surveyed said that if they were looking to buy a house, they would consider period features to be essential. Energy efficiency was a key theme running through the survey - across all the regions. As well as an effective central heating system and double glazing, the top ten property essentials include a good energy efficiency rating (54%) and cavity wall insulation (48%).. - See more at: http://www.hpmmag.com/newsitem.asp?newsID=2434#sthash.API80xTM.dpuf