Question about water pipes freezing in a new build property

baby_frogmella

This may seem like a really stupid question but how common is it to find find burst water pipes which froze in very cold weather in new build domestic properties? Reason i ask is that not too long ago i moved to Inverness in North Scotland and purchased a new build 4 bedroom house, however i have to leave my property unoccupied for 5-6 weeks at a time throughout the year as i work on a rotation abroad so obviously i'm worried about central heating/hot water pipes freezing in the winter months whilst i'm away at work if my heating is left switched off. Now common sense would dictate that perhaps i should program my heating to come on for 3 hrs in the morning and evening every day (set room thermostat to 10 deg?) in winter whilst i'm away to minimize the risk ...BUT...in my previous home in Sittingbourne (East Kent) which i also bought as a new-build, i always used to leave the heating off during the winter months whilst at work and yes i know Inverness is colder than Kent, however it does sometimes gets below freezing in Kent yet in 6 years i never suffered from burst pipes in my previous home. Which makes me think that perhaps water pipes in newer properties are less prone to bursting in cold weather than in older homes? What do you think?

If it helps i have a sealed pressurized hot/cold water system with an "Ideal Icon 12" condensing boiler.

Thanks

macman

All modern boilers have a frost 'stat. So if you leave it on but low, that should kick in if the temp falls that low.

baby_frogmella

macman wrote: »

All modern boilers have a frost 'stat. So if you leave it on but low, that should kick in if the temp falls that low.

The wall thermostat dial in my living room also has a frost setting (ie the lowest). So is the solution to leave the heating on continuously whilst i'm away but turn down the room thermostat and boiler temp to frost setting? I take it there's no need to turn on the hot water switch also? Sorry for the dumb questions!