Your Essential Melbourne Winter Plumbing Checklist
Top Five Plumbing Tips for Winter
Ah, Winter. A season of splendid transformation, where the world is blanketed in a frosty embrace and the air grows crisp and invigorating. It is a time, dearest reader, to prepare one’s home for the chill of winter’s touch, ensuring that every corner of the estate is ready to face the cold months ahead.
As we settle into our cosy havens, ready to endure the icy nights and brisk mornings, there is much to be done; with haste!
While the new Bridgerton series is streaming on Netflix in the background, I take the time to attempt to bring some joy to the chilly season with hearty slow-cooker meals and the comforting aroma of mulled wine simmering on the stove. But most of the time after the chaos of weekend kids sporting activities, just watching Getaway under a big fluffy rug with a cup of tea sparks joy for me.
While we indulge in our various winter pastimes, it is important to ensure that our home’s plumbing is equally prepared for winter’s demands. Not as charming as the diamond of the season, perhaps, but essential nonetheless. To aid you in this endeavour, gentle reader, we have compiled a checklist of the top five plumbing tips for Winter.
1 – Make Sure Your Hot Water System has a Frost Protection Valve
In West Melbourne, most homes with solar hot water services have frost protection valves installed to safeguard the system’s solar panels from freezing temperatures. These valves activate when the outside air temperature drops to between 3°C and 4°C, allowing warm water to circulate through the solar storage tank and panels, preventing the panels from freezing. Once the temperature rises, the valve closes, stopping the flow of warm water. Typically, frost protection valves last about 1-2 years.
If you notice excessive water running off your roof near your solar hot water system, it might indicate a cracked solar panel or a faulty frost protection valve. To prevent further water loss, shut off the isolation valve on your hot water system or turn off the water at your main meter if you’re unsure of the valve’s location. Contact us for an inspection and necessary repairs. Our experienced plumbers will determine if your solar panel is cracked or if the frost protection valve needs replacing, ensuring your system is ready for the next frosty morning in West Melbourne. Regular annual check-ups can help minimise the risk of such issues recurring.
On the topic of your hot water system, it’s going to get a hammering in the upcoming winter months, so ensure it’s working optimally.
Check for any leaks or signs of damage, and make sure the temperature is set to the appropriate level for your home (In Victoria, plumbing regulations state hot water must be at a maximum of 50˚ at shower head or bathroom tap outlets). A tempering valve ensures that your hot water is stored at above 60˚ in your hot water system (to prevent bacteria growth) but exits your bathroom taps at a lower temperature to ensure scalding doesn’t occur.
2 – Clean Your Gutters And Downpipes
Autumn’s beautiful orange and brown leaves look amazing on all of the trees, however when they fall they often end up in drains and gutters, creating a nice little blockage just in time for the winter rains.
Leaf filled gutters can slow water flow and misdirect rainwater and block downpipes and drains. This can put your house at risk by funnelling water into places it shouldn’t go – like down your bedroom wall = $$$.
Pick a weekend soon to rake your leaves and check out your drains to avoid any winter blockages. Don’t have time to clean your gutters? We can help just give us a buzz.
3 – Avoid a Frozen Water Meter
In winter, water meters and pipes that sit above the ground can be vulnerable to freezing temperatures, especially when it falls below zero. The water inside these meters and pipes can freeze, resulting in no water supply and potential damage such as broken or split pipes. To prevent this, cover your water meter with household items like plastic tubs, cardboard boxes, blankets, or buckets to trap air and stop the water inside from freezing. Ensure the cover is easily removable for meter readers and maintenance crews, maintaining a 10cm clearance at all times.
If your water meter does freeze, it’s best to let it thaw naturally as the temperature rises. If immediate thawing is needed, pour lukewarm water over the frozen area—never use boiling or hot water, as it can cause the pipes to split.
By taking these preventive measures, you can keep your water flowing smoothly throughout the winter and avoid the hassle and expense of dealing with frozen or damaged pipes and meters. If it’s too late, call Greater Western Water to arrange a replacement on 13 44 99. If the pipes on your side of the meter are damaged, give us a call to assist.
4 – Get Your Roof Leaks Fixed Before Winter
If you have a small roof leak, NOW is the time to do something about it before it turns into a big, expensive mess.
Our award-winning plumbers all receive working at heights training when they join our team and each receive a harness to ensure their safety while providing solutions to your roofing problems. However, we cant send them onto the roof during heavy rain or in a storm as their safety is not worth the risk. That’s why prevention is better than cure, and prevention before the bad weather comes.
Our roof experts can provide gutter cleans, repair roof leaks and repair entire roofs and gutters when required. Our initial investigation includes a detailed report, documented by pictures to help you understand the current condition of your roof, and pricing options depending on your budget.
We can also provide non-intrusive leak detection on your property. With infrared leak detection devices, we quickly detect problem areas that can’t be seen by naked eyes. Call Kathy today to have a chat about your roof issue.
5 – Get You Heating and Cooling Serviced
If you have gas ducted heating (like most new homes are in Point Cook, Sanctuary Lakes, Tarneit, Truganina and Williams Landing) you have probably started using it now.
Book in a heater service at least every two years (as advised by Energy Safe Victoria). This detects any gas leakages (which can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning), extends the life of your gas heater, and ensures that you can use your heater with no issues throughout winter.
McCarthy Plumbing Group can do absolutely everything plumbing-wise EXCEPT for heating and cooling servicing. For that, we use Point Cook locals and trusted plumbing heating and cooling specialists Supercool Heating and Cooling. They recently serviced our heater and changed our filters to ensure a cosy winter ahead.
Also, try to set your living area thermostat to between 18-20˚C. Every degree higher can increase your heating costs by around 15%! Use a blanket, socks, oodie etc to get that extra warmth (less chance of cracked lips and dry hands too!).
