November 1st, 2022 by Sarah Miles

Taking steps now to winter-proof key aspects of your property will pay huge dividends in averting potentially costly repairs. Water freezing and then expanding is one of the greatest causes of damage to external areas so guttering and pipes are especially vulnerable. Making a little effort now will help to prevent such things from happening.

Why are gutters and pipes at risk in the winter?

Guttering and pipes are there to collect excess rainfall and direct it into drains where it can safely flow away. As we know, the issue with water is that when it freezes, it expands. Moving water won’t usually freeze but standing water will and this can cause pipes and guttering to burst or joints to pop. When the water thaws, this can lead to flooding and damage to your property.

The main cause of this is blockages in the gutters or in the pipes themselves, which usually come from foreign objects such as leaves and debris from the environment. Take the following steps to mitigate the risks and keep your property safe over the winter months.

How to winterproof your guttering

The first thing you need to do is check to see whether your gutters are clear. It’s best to wait until mid to late autumn as the biggest source of blockage is usually fallen leaves. You may also find the remains of birds’ nests or even wasps’ nests (don’t worry, they will be abandoned at this time of year).

There are bound to be some items of debris in there, even if they’re not completely blocked so just remove all foreign objects and give them a good clean. Once you have done that, you will be able to check for any signs of disrepair such as holes or cracks. Look for visual signs of flaws and also pour some water in and see whether you spot any leaks.

Also, check that the guttering and pipes are securely fixed to the house. If brackets get loose, they can then move around in high winds, and this can potentially pull them away completely.

What to do if you find some issues?

If you do find areas of disrepair, it is important to fix them now. This is the exact point of this exercise: identifying small issues now in order to prevent big problems later. If there are large holes, it’s probably best to replace that section of guttering with new ones. If there are small holes or cracks, you should be able to repair this yourself using an outdoor sealant such as Black Magic Roof Repair Sealant. Just wipe away any dirt and apply with it a brush or trowel. The product contains elastic-impregnated fibres that allow it to expand and contract as temperatures fluctuate. This makes it a really strong repair that can withstand whatever winter conditions throw at it. You can use it on guttering and pipes and if you see any damage to the roof while you are up there, you can use it on there as well.

Secure any loose brackets and make sure there’s no movement in the pipes. Also, check the drains at the bottom as blockages here could cause water to back up in the downpipes.

Other measures you can take

You can further protect these areas by taking some sensible precautions. Guards can be installed on the gutters that allow water through but block larger solid objects and it’s also useful to add covers to drains. Lagging the pipes will protect them from freezing, should water start to build up, adding an extra safety net.

What to do if something does go wrong

Even if you prepare well, things can go wrong, especially if we have particularly harsh weather over the winter. Keep doing some visual checks on the guttering and pipes and if you spot any signs of issues, such as water dripping through even when the weather is dry, or visible cracks and holes, take action as soon as possible.

You can fix them using an emergency repair spray. Just spray it onto the flaw and it will instantly seal gaps and cracks, fully curing in around 30 minutes. Acting quickly can avoid disasters so it’s really worth having some in, ready to apply when needed. Where the gap is larger, you can use some gauze to fill some of the gap and give the spray something to adhere to.

The good news is, this isn’t just a temporary fix; because it’s a tough, bitumen formula, the repair will last for years – job done!