By Mike Collins · 6 October 2026
Before the heating becomes an everyday job, give your plumbing a proper look round. For homeowners in Deeside, North Wales and nearby Cheshire, autumn is a useful time to spot an exposed pipe, a slow drip or a heating fault before colder weather makes it more awkward.
You do not need to dismantle anything. Start with a torch, a notepad and the instructions for your heating system. The aim is to find what needs attention, decide what you can safely handle and get help with the rest.
Could you reach your internal stop tap quickly? Look for it, clear the cupboard around it and make sure other adults in the house know where it is. Under the kitchen sink is common, but it may be elsewhere.
If you are unsure which valve controls the incoming water, ask a plumber to identify it and check that it works. Do not force a stiff valve. Label it once confirmed. Our guide to isolation valves explains the smaller valves serving individual fittings; these are different from the main stop tap.
Think beyond the warm kitchen. Accessible water pipes in garages, lofts and unheated outbuildings deserve attention, as do exposed runs outdoors. Look for missing, split or poorly fitted insulation, particularly around bends and joints.
WaterSafe recommends insulating pipes in unheated areas. Ask a plumbing merchant for insulation suited to the pipe and its location, including outdoor exposure where relevant. If access is unsafe or you cannot identify the pipe, leave that part to a plumber.
Make a short list of the exposed sections rather than buying a random bundle of foam. A photo and a measurement help you explain what you need.
Disconnect your hose, drain it and put it away. Where an outside tap has its own working indoor isolation valve, shut off that branch and drain the outside tap for winter. If you cannot identify the valve or are unsure the pipe will drain, ask a plumber.
A suitable insulating tap cover and protection for exposed pipework are useful too. Check an old cover still fits and has not fallen apart. WaterSafe's advice on outside taps and hoses covers these precautions. Do not assume that leaving a hose connected with its spray nozzle closed provides frost protection.
Empty the cupboard under the sink and inspect the visible pipework, valves and waste connections. Look around the toilet supply and accessible radiator valves too. Note fresh dampness, drips, staining or a cupboard base that has started to swell.
A stain alone does not tell you the cause. Record where it is and when moisture appears: after running the tap, after a flush or while the heating is on. That is more useful than tightening every nut in sight. Arrange a repair for an active leak; do not hide it behind the cleaning bottles again.
Use the normal thermostat and heating controls to check the system before you depend on it every morning. Notice which rooms warm up, whether a fault code appears and whether any visible joints start dripping. Keep hands away from hot pipework.
If your system has a pressure gauge, compare the cold reading with its own manual. There is no single pressure instruction for every installation. Worcester Bosch advises getting persistent pressure loss investigated; repeatedly topping up does not identify the fault.
Air can cause a cold patch at a radiator's top. Our radiator-bleeding guide covers that separate job; always follow your system's instructions. A cold radiator is not automatically a bleeding problem, so get recurring or unexplained faults checked.
A condensing boiler has a pipe carrying condensate to a drain. If part of that run is outdoors, it can freeze in prolonged cold and stop the boiler working. Worcester Bosch explains the freezing risk and suitable precautions.
If you do not know which pipe it is, ask your heating engineer to identify it and advise on protection. Do not alter unidentified pipes or cover outlets. This is a good question to raise at a service, before a cold spell exposes a problem.
Check when your boiler was last serviced. HSE recommends annual servicing of gas appliances by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Check the engineer is qualified for the appliance concerned. Test and maintain your carbon monoxide alarm following its instructions; an alarm does not replace servicing.
Keep these checks to visible plumbing and normal user controls. Do not open the boiler casing, attempt gas work or work on electrical components. Never obstruct ventilation or flues.
Give each finding a next step: buy suitable insulation, arrange a leak repair or book an engineer to investigate a fault. Include the room, the symptom and when it happens. A clear description helps you get the right assistance.
Going away over winter? Check your insurer's conditions and ask about a frost-protection plan suited to your heating and plumbing. Do not assume switching everything off or draining one tap protects the whole house.
Want to understand the pipework you are looking at? Our beginner-friendly 3-day practical plumbing course in Deeside covers connections, isolation, taps, toilets and radiators, with tools and materials included. View the 3-day course and choose your booking dates. It is practical skills training, not a gas-work qualification.
