Remember water supplies in the rush to move in for Christmas

Water Regs UK is reminding house buyers to check plumbing systems and water supplies in the rush to move into their new home before the end of the year.

Experts are reporting that the process of buying a home is taking as long as 16 weeks to complete in the current property market*.

With many potential house buyers still hoping to move in before Christmas, Water Regs UK is urging people not to take short cuts when it comes to checking the water systems in their new home.

Water Regs UK helps to protect public health and encourages water efficiency by promoting and facilitating compliance with the Water Fittings Regulations.

As well as advising building owners and managers, designers, installers and manufacturers, its role also includes advising householders on how to make sure the water systems in their own homes are compliant.

Julie Spinks, Managing Director of Water Regs UK, commented:

“Moving into a new home can be a really exciting event and many of us can’t wait to complete, having found the property of our dreams.

“Often we want to speed things up when setting up once moved in, given how long it takes to complete a house purchase, but the water supply in your home isn’t one where you should be looking to cut corners.”

Water Regs UK has produced a list of checkpoints when it comes to checking the water supply in a new home:

1. Who is your water supplier? Most homes are supplied by the local water company but three per cent of home owners have a private water supplier and that can bring complications. You may also want to check who manages your wastewater.
2. Check if you have a water meter. People with water meters tend to use less water and this can reduce your water bill. They can also give early warnings of leaks, if they show more water is being used than expected.
3. Know where the stop tap is and check that it’s working. A burst pipe can create a lot of damage, and this can be much worse, if you can’t turn off the water supply quickly!
4. Know where the boiler is and when it was last serviced? Potential homeowners should check the boiler’s service history and that any work was completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
5. If you do need to make any improvements in your new home, make sure you use compliant fittings and use a qualified installer. You can search for local qualified installers on WaterSafe.org,uk.
   Anything from pipes, fittings, taps, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, to coffee machines, boilers and toilets, all need to comply and must be tested to show they won’t leak or contaminate the water. Surprisingly, not all products sold have been appropriately tested, so it’s worth checking that products have been tested to show they comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws.
6. If the seller offers to leave appliances behind, check they are water efficient. What might seem to be a welcome gesture could be a false economy in the long run. If you’re buying new appliances look out for the European water label, that provides useful information about water efficiency.

*https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/property-expert-buy-house-now-to-move-in-before-xmas-286596