Soha Housing Ltd - Get Involved

Below is some advice about keeping your home warm and what to do if your pipes freeze or burst. We’ve put the answers to common questions at the foot of the page.

Keep yourself warm

Here’s a checklist of things that you can do to stay warm in your home.

Ensure the heating is turned on.
Stay indoors.
Make sure you have extra blankets close to hand.
Drink plenty of hot drinks.
Wear several layers of clothes.
Eat hot meals regularly.
Stay in touch with someone outside your home.
Keep emergency phone numbers to hand.
Ask someone to do your shopping.
Ask someone to keep your pathways clear.

More advice is available on the South Oxfordshire District Council website

Keeping your home warm

Try to keep your home at a constant temperature, especially upstairs. If you are out during the day, try to keep it warm for your return. Feel your radiators - if they are warm or hot, the system is working.

UK heating systems are designed to work up to a temperature of -1°C. That means they will generally not be fully effective at lower temperatures.

If heating problems persist once temperatures rise above 2°C, please contact Village Heating on 08000 352360 and they will be able to make an assessment.

Set your thermostat at around 21°C (70°F) and heat all the rooms you use in the day.
If you can’t heat all your rooms make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed.
Try to keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight.
Set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed.
In very cold weather, rather than turn the thermostat up, set the heating to come on earlier so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up.

Going away

If you are going away, even just for one night and the weather is cold, turn off the water at the main stopcock and drain the system by turning on the taps.

Remember

Although your building is insured by Soha, we don't insure your contents, so any damage to your contents caused by a leak will not be covered.

Insurance for contents including your carpets, furniture and all of your other posessions can and should be bought separately. We can send you details of approved insurers. For details, call us on 01235 515900/0800 014 15 45 (free from a landline).

If you have frozen pipes

Follow this link for instructions on how to defrost a frozen condensate pipe

Follow this link for video advice on what to do if you have a frozen pipe

Check the main stopcock can be turned off when the pipes thaw in case of burst pipes and leaks.
Turn off the main stopcockwhen you are not using the drinking water.
Open the loft hatch if your water tank is in the roof – this will help it to thaw.
Put on your fire if you have a solid fuel back fired boiler. This reduces the risk of damage.
Switch off your immersion heater if you have one.
Do not use hot water taps until the plumbing system has completely thawed. This will prevent damage to the hot water cylinder.
Do not try to clear airlocks or get water back until the system is completely thawed, as tanks, pipes or overflows may still be frozen in the loft and you could flood your home.

If you have burst pipes

Turn off the water at the main stopcock.
Turn off back boilers and immersion heaters. Gas-fired back boiler can be used, but only as gas fires.
Drain your water tank but only by turning the cold water taps on.
Wrap cloth tightly around any leaks and phone 0800 389 5225.
Turn off the electricity at the mains if water has touched the electrics and ask us to check them before switching them back on.
Do not turn on hot water taps when draining tanks if you have a copper hot water cylinder.

What do I do if…

I have frozen or burst pipes?

Follow this link for instructions on how to defrost a frozen condensate pipe
Follow this link for video advice on what to do if you have a frozen pipe

I have a frozen overflow or my guttering is leaking?

If you are able to do so, try pouring warm water over the frozen overflow. Hopefully this will be enough to thaw it out. Make sure that the heating is on and open the doors to let the warm air circulate. If the pipe is indoors, you could try using a hairdryer to thaw the pipes - but remember to take care when using electrical equipment near water!
If your gutter is leaking then we will repair it, although it wouldn't be a high priority.

I have no heating?

If your heating isn't working then you should report it to Soha for us to repair as soon as possible. We will repair it as a matter of priority if you, or anyone else living with you, are elderly, disabled or very young.
Meanwhile, you will need to use fan heaters or oil-filled radiators to keep warm.

The seals on my doors and/or windows are letting in cold draughts?

Please report this to Soha. Until we have repaired the seals, you could try using draft excluders along the bottom of doors. Closing your curtains will also help to prevent drafts and keep warmth in.

I need some salt/grit for my path or for the road?

This is something that the council will be able to help you with.