how to avoid common winter maintenance issues guide

How to avoid common winter maintenance issues

A one stop guide to make sure you have a warm and dry winter with no maintenance problems caused by the weather

Contents 01

02: Introduction03:What do I need to look out for?04: Boilers05:Service the boiler in the summer06: Check the heating system07: Bleed the radiators08: Set heating to frost setting09: Vacant property/ long Holiday10: Roofs11:How do you prevent roof damage?12: Visual roof Inspection13: Ridge tiles re-pointing14: Ridge tiles re-bedding16: Roof – slipped tiles

16: Slipped tiles who can fix it?17: Slipped tiles how much will it cost?18: Blocked gutters problems19: Simple blocked gutters test20: What do blocked gutters look like?21: How do I pick a good tradesman?22: Tradesman recommendations23: Tradesman online ratings24:Tradesman health and safety accreditation

If you need some advice feel free to contact usCall : 01924 400056Email : [email protected] : www.adcpropertysolutions.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

Introduction 02

Winter is upon us and the shorts and t shirt weather is over. It’s likely you want a nice warm house to enjoy on a night. That might not be the case if you haven’t checked a few things around your home to make sure it’s in top condition.

Some of the things to look out for are potential boiler problems and roofing leaks.

If these are not well maintained, you may find yourself having a colder or wetter winter than expected. That is why we put together this guide to help make sure you have a warm and toasty winter.

If you need some advice feel free to contact usIf you need some advice feel free to contact usCall : 01924 400056Email : [email protected] : www.adcpropertysolutions.co.uk

Winter is coming are you prepared?


What do I need to look out for? 03

Boiler Issues• Check your boiler fires up prior to the

cold weather • Check your radiators are hot all the way

to the top with no leaks • Check you boiler is running smoothly

without any strange noises or leaks.

Roof Issues• Can you see any missing or slipped

roof/ridge tiles?• Do your gutters look clear and free

of debris & vegetation? • Are there any signs of damp on your

internal walls and ceilings?



Boilers 04

The common maintenance issues we face during the winter period are to do with heating systems and boilers.

Issues such as • the boiler not firing up• radiators not getting hot all the way

through to the top and/or leaking• the boiler making loud noises

and/or leaking

So read on for our top 4 pieces of actionable advice on how to avoid the most common heating problems this winter.



Tip 1 – Service the boiler in the summer 05

Plumber Availability

During the summer central heating is rarely used. Therefore, if you have a problem the first time you will probably discover it is when you turn on the system in the winter. This is the worst time to see if you have a problem as you need it there and then.

Everybody waits until winter……

Everybody needs a gas engineer at the same time. It might be a couple of weeks before a gas safe engineer can look at your boiler because he is already fully booked up.


Plumbers get booked up fast in the winter.


Tip 2 – Check the heating system 06

Turn the heating on and make sure the following happens.

• Boiler fires up• Radiators are hot all the way up to the

top and there are no leaks on the pipes• The boiler isn’t making loud noises or

leaking

If you check it during the summer you can resolve any issues before the winter. Also wait times are much shorter during the summer for gas engineers.


The summer months are the best time to check the heating system.


Tip 3 – Bleed the radiators 07

In order to get the most efficient use of your radiators you may need to bleed them. Over time the radiators fill with air leaving less space for water.

This means that half of your radiator might be cold because it is filled with air rather than water. By letting the air out more water can be heated therefore making the radiator more efficient.

To bleed your radiators, you can buy a radiator key at any good DIY store such as Screwfix or on Amazon here.


http://amzn.to/2eYsyZK


http://amzn.to/2eYsyZK

Tip 4 – Set heating to frost setting 08

If you need some advice feel free to contact us

If you do not require your heating on during the winter, do not turn your boiler off as the system may freeze. Let your boiler run for a few hours morning and night as normal, with your radiator valves turned down to the frost setting.

Alternatively, there may be a frost setting on your boiler’s thermostat control. This will prevent your pipework freezing and subsequently leaking during cold weather. If you do not have any of these options, it may be time to have your heating system reviewed by a professional.

In order to enable the frost setting you should look for a button with a snowflake symbol on it. Alternatively, check the instructions for your thermostat.



Tip 5 – Drain down vacant properties 09

If your property is going to be vacant for any length of time, it may be worth considering having your water systems ‘drained down’ to avoid having to leave anything on.

All the water is removed from the system meaning that it can’t freeze and break any pipe joints. When the property is ready for reoccupation, the water systems can be refilled. This also means that you don’t lose any money keeping the heating on while you are away.

Always ensure you use a professional, especially to drain up as the boiler needs to be checked by a Gas Safe engineer.



Roof Issues 10

Other common winter maintenance issues we frequently encounter are roof leaks and damp problems.

Usually it involves • slipped tiles• blocked gutters • tiles that need to be re-pointed

If these kinds of problems are left unresolved they will only get worse.

You should always make sure that roofers have public liability insurance before proceeding with work in case of damage.


Working at height isn’t for everybody.


How do you prevent roof damage? 11

How do you prevent roof damage?So in order to have a warm winter with no water damage there are a few things you should do during the summer months.

Carry out a visual roof inspectionGo outside your house and look at the roof. Some of the main things to check are the metal flashings, tiles/slates, drains and gutters.

If you don’t see anything from outside the property, the next place to check is the loft. If you can see daylight coming through anywhere you will require some repairs externally.



Things to look for during the inspection 12

There are three main things to look for when performing the visual inspection.Those are slipped tiles, tiles needing to be re-pointed and blocked gutters.

We will take you through step by step, what to look for, how to fix it and who should carry out repairs.


Tiles need to be re-pointedSlipped Tiles Blocked Gutters


Ridge Tiles Re-pointing 13

If you need some advice feel free to contact us

When performing the visual inspection the tiles which join the corners of your roof together can sometimes deteriorate because of the weather.

The cement pointing of your ridge tiles, (which join the corners of your roof together) will deteriorate.

To fix this the tiles need to be re-pointed which means filling up the gaps with cement.

If the issue is really bad then re-bedding might be needed instead.


Gaps are caused by the cement deteriorating


Re-bedding ridge tiles 14

If a large quantity of the cement has broken, it might be easier to re-bed the ridge tiles.

• Remove all tiles and cement• Mix some new cement and layer on the roof• The tiles are then secured to the roof using the cement.


Gaps that have been repointedGaps


Roof - Slipped Tiles 15

What does it look like?

This is where the tiles, through stormy weather or wear and tear have slipped down the roof leaving a gap which water can get through.

There is sometimes felt below the tile which may also be damaged and lead to water leaking into the property.

Multiple slipped tiles may be due to nail failure, indicating a re-roof may be required. Seek professional advice.



Slipped Tiles – Who can fix it? 16

Make sure you use an experienced roofer who has the right equipment and insurance so the job is completed correctly.

Ensure they have public liability insurance which covers you for any damage caused to property or the public whilst works are being carried out.



Slipped Tiles – How much will it cost? 17

If you go with the professional roofer, you may pay a little bit more, but you can rest assured that the job is going to be done right and with all health and safety compliance adhered to.

If you go with the cheaper option, you are much more likely to encounter problems along the way, especially if they are not insured.



Gutter Problems 18

How to identify issues with guttering

Another common problem is blocked and/or damaged gutters. Gutters are designed to collect water from the roof and send it down the drainpipe. If they are blocked and overflowing or damaged it can cause water to run down the wall often resulting in damp inside the property.

Check your gutters to see if they are blocked with debris like leaves or moss. Also, look for any damage to gutters and downpipes.



Simple Blocked Gutter Test 19

One of the simple tests you can do if you want to check if the gutters are blocked is to stand outside when it is raining and see if the water is overshooting the gutters or running down the walls.



What do blocked gutters look like? 20

If you’re scared of heights or would just rather not take the risk of injury it might be best to leave it to the professionals.

If you decided to clear the gutters yourself always be extremely careful and following the guidance on using ladders safely to avoid injury.



How do I pick a good tradesman? 21

So if you decide to use a professional for some types of work, you may be wondering how to ensure you choose a good tradesman?

You should look for the following

• Recommendations from friends and family• Online ratings through Google reviews,

Yelp, Trust Pilot etc• If they are accredited by either a health

and safety or trade organization such as CHAS, Safe Contractor or Gas Safe



Tradesman Recommendations 22

One of the best ways to find yourself a good tradesman is to get recommendations from other people.

Ask your family and friends

See who has completed a good quality job for them in the past. Post on social media so people know you are looking to employ somebody to complete some work for you.



Tradesman Online Ratings 23

If none of your family or friends have any recommendations you can look online for ratings and reviews

If you Google their website it may well have a star rating and review from previous customers.

Facebook also has a star rating system to look at.

Or you can try other places like Yelp, Trust Pilot or Checkatrades.com



Tradesman Health and Safety Accreditation 24

One of the ways reputable tradesman can distinguish themselves from their competitors is to have a health and safety accreditation. These bodies make sure that the business attains a certain set of health and safety standards.

If the business has one of the following accreditations you know they are more reputable

• CHAS• Safe Contractor• Gas Safe



Any Questions? 25

If you have any questions please get in contact with us as we would be happy to help and provide advice on any issues you might have.

Call: 01924 400056Email: [email protected]: www.adcpropertysolutions.co.uk




how to avoid common winter maintenance issues guide

Real Estate