It’s been a frosty winter for us in Edinburgh so far and, with temperatures regularly dropping below zero, there are some things we can all do to keep our homes comfortable and well-maintained over the colder months.<\/p>\n
Watch out for frozen pipes Top tip:<\/strong> If your home has a thermostat you can use this to keep temperatures from dropping too low when you’re away from home. Maintaining a constant temperature (around 7\u00b0C when you’re not at home) can help to prevent frozen pipes.<\/p>\n Reduce condensation to help prevent damp<\/strong><\/p>\n Condensation occurs when warm air meets at cold surface. This is why it’s more common for condensation to form on windows during winter when it’s cold outside and warm inside. The most effective way to reduce condensation is to reduce humidity (eg use extractor fans and pot lids when cooking, keep doors shut when running hot water in bathrooms or kitchens) and increase ventilation to help water in the air escape (eg open windows whenever possible).<\/p>\n
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\nWater can freeze and expand inside pipes causing a blockage or, in extreme cases, a burst pipe. If you turn on a tap and little or no water comes out, there could be frozen water in the pipe. Make sure you know where your stopcock is so that you can shut off your water in an emergency (such as a burst pipe). If you have a burst pipe, please let us know immediately by calling 0131 554 0403 or, if the office is closed, our out-of-hours number is 0800 783 7937.<\/p>\nMaintenance and cleaning services during winter<\/h3>\n