Exact temperature homes should be to avoid 'frozen pipes' as Met Office warn snow set to cover North East

As the Met Office warns that snow may arrive in the North East this week, homeowners are being urged to take precautionary actions to protect their properties from potential damage.

As temperatures drop, the likelihood of household pipes freezing and bursting increases and could cause significant damage to plumbing and heating systems. While some may be tempted to search Google for quick solutions to thawing pipes, experts from Yell recommend avoiding DIY methods and listening to professionals.

There are simple steps homeowners can follow to mitigate risk. David Doran from Blackstone Plumbing and Heating Ltd offers essential advice, highlighting the importance of setting your thermostat correctly.

How to avoid frozen pipes

To avoid the risk of frozen pipes, David suggests maintaining a home temperature between 18-20C. He also suggests continually keeping your thermostat at around 18 degrees can help prevent pipes from icing up.

Modern heating systems often include a "frost protection" mode that keeps temperatures above freezing levels, conserving energy. It's also recommended to remember that completely turning off heating, especially when travelling or aiming to save on bills during winter, is not advisable, reports the Mirror.

The recommendation is to lower the temperature to approximately 15-17C when you're asleep or not at home. This not only saves energy but also prevents your house from getting too cold.

You could also schedule regular heating intervals throughout the day to keep your pipes warm and reduce the chance of them freezing. It's also vital to have your boiler serviced regularly to ensure it's operating optimally, providing consistent heat across your property.

David advises having your boiler inspected annually for safe and efficient functioning. Regular servicing can identify leaks, blockages, and verify the safety of devices, helping to avoid serious problems like gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Not only does this enhance efficiency and help save on energy bills, but many warranties and insurance policies also require annual servicing.

When will snow hit the North East?

The Met Office issued a 24-hour yellow warning from 10am on Monday, November 18 until 10am on Tuesday, November 19. This covers the whole North East region, including Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as stretching as far north as Glasgow and down to Leeds.