Heating an empty house
Discussion
We have a very rudimentary heating system being a gas fired boiler supplying radiators. We control the heating via a thermostat in the lounge. We don't use timers and don't have Hive or the like
We are going away soon so the house will be empty so I thinking about what to leave the thermostat on so that it stops any chance of pipes freezing or the house getting damp. Overnight I put the thermostat down to 10 and the heating only clicks in if the temperature drops below freezing. Upstairs is always a few degrees warmer. My gut feeling is to put the thermostat up to 12/13 that way the heating won't be coming on all time and if it's milder than it is currently it may not come on at all.
Any thoughts?
We are going away soon so the house will be empty so I thinking about what to leave the thermostat on so that it stops any chance of pipes freezing or the house getting damp. Overnight I put the thermostat down to 10 and the heating only clicks in if the temperature drops below freezing. Upstairs is always a few degrees warmer. My gut feeling is to put the thermostat up to 12/13 that way the heating won't be coming on all time and if it's milder than it is currently it may not come on at all.
Any thoughts?
Froststat and Pipestat used in combination will allow you to have the system frost-protected 24/7.
Froststat - put in a cold place, eg, attic next to expansion tank, will fire the boiler when temperatre is low.
Pipestat - attached to the return pipe, will turn the boiler off when the pipes are warm.
It's all you need really. Cheap, simple, reliable. Without that, your plan is fine.
One other thought - most house policies don't like the house to be unoccupied for longer than a month, so maybe have someone check in if you're planning to be away longer. A few years back (just before covid) we planned to be away for about 6 weeks, and a neighbour's daughter was going to house-sit for a week or so in the middle.
Froststat - put in a cold place, eg, attic next to expansion tank, will fire the boiler when temperatre is low.
Pipestat - attached to the return pipe, will turn the boiler off when the pipes are warm.
It's all you need really. Cheap, simple, reliable. Without that, your plan is fine.
One other thought - most house policies don't like the house to be unoccupied for longer than a month, so maybe have someone check in if you're planning to be away longer. A few years back (just before covid) we planned to be away for about 6 weeks, and a neighbour's daughter was going to house-sit for a week or so in the middle.
Edited by shtu on Wednesday 20th November 09:38
I spend upto 3 months away at a time often over winter. At my old house (we have Hive at the new one) my MO was...
Turn off the mains water and drain down the taps, flush the toilets, make sure outside tap is drained and covered.
Heating set to 10c on regular times.
I leave a key with the in laws who go in every 2-3 weeks to move post from the door, check no leaks or anything.
I have learnt before I get back to get the in laws to go in 2 full days before and turn the stat to 16c.
If you don't do this it will take a couple of days to get the house back warm, its crazy how deep the cold will get into everything.
I also turn the mains water back on slowly, with the taps open first. So just a trickle, let the air come out slowly and then close them one by one to check for any leaks. Then once I am happy I will open the mains valve more after say 2-3 mins and then check again for leaks.
I keep an eye on internal temps using smart things. It generally does not get much below about 7c. I also use smart things to turn lights on and off so it looks like we are at home.
Turn off the mains water and drain down the taps, flush the toilets, make sure outside tap is drained and covered.
Heating set to 10c on regular times.
I leave a key with the in laws who go in every 2-3 weeks to move post from the door, check no leaks or anything.
I have learnt before I get back to get the in laws to go in 2 full days before and turn the stat to 16c.
If you don't do this it will take a couple of days to get the house back warm, its crazy how deep the cold will get into everything.
I also turn the mains water back on slowly, with the taps open first. So just a trickle, let the air come out slowly and then close them one by one to check for any leaks. Then once I am happy I will open the mains valve more after say 2-3 mins and then check again for leaks.
I keep an eye on internal temps using smart things. It generally does not get much below about 7c. I also use smart things to turn lights on and off so it looks like we are at home.
Thanks for the replies.
I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
As extra piece of mind (assuming you have internet) you could set up an internal "baby alarm" type camera. You can have a quick look every now and again & also set it to send an alarm if movement is detected. These are cheap as chips & work well.
We've also got a leak bot attached to the pipe work. This sends an alert if higher than usual water flow is detected.
Mind, the above is only useful if you have a contact to respond to any problem. Else, you can just sit wand watch the water flow.
We've also got a leak bot attached to the pipe work. This sends an alert if higher than usual water flow is detected.
Mind, the above is only useful if you have a contact to respond to any problem. Else, you can just sit wand watch the water flow.
Humpy D said:
Thanks for the replies.
I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
I’ve seen it happen once before. Not anyone I know but the thick ice on the front of the house during a unseasonal cold spell was unusual enough for me to asking what the heck it was from the neighbour who was clearing snow off his drive at the time.I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
A frozen pipe that flooded the entire place.
Poor owners were on holiday and had no idea what they were coming back to.
Hol said:
Humpy D said:
Thanks for the replies.
I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
I’ve seen it happen once before. Not anyone I know but the thick ice on the front of the house during a unseasonal cold spell was unusual enough for me to asking what the heck it was from the neighbour who was clearing snow off his drive at the time.I'm a bit paranoid after getting a call from the mil's neighbour a while back saying her alarm was going off (house was unoccupied). Opened the front door to the sound of gushing water as a pipe had burst in the loft due to it being below freezing and no heating on.
A frozen pipe that flooded the entire place.
Poor owners were on holiday and had no idea what they were coming back to.
Once in a shared house when somebody came back after Christmas, turned the water on & went up town without waiting to check.
Second time a newly installed shower blew off the wall.
The damage water does is hard to imagine if you've not experienced it. Being paranoid is a good thing.
Control our gas boiler with a Tado device, I can sit in the sun on the Algarve and report the internal rwmp at home via my clever phone......just as long as I remember NOT to turn the wifi router off......
We also leave a key with our next door nieghbour so he can clear mail and cut the grass at the front, he's a good lad and a lot younger than us!
We also leave a key with our next door nieghbour so he can clear mail and cut the grass at the front, he's a good lad and a lot younger than us!
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