Should I turn my water off.

Susan1942

I am going to be away for 8 weeks starting from this wednesday. Should I turn the water off? The problem is I can't turn the valve off but should I get someone to do it for me? Advice appreciated

jammin_2

I would leave the water on and set my central heating thermostat to 5 degrees coming on only for a few hours during the night.

HXDave

whilst i dont go away personally for long periods of time, i have heard of people (including the MIL) leaving the cold water tap on just very very slightly. the reasoning behind this is that there will always be water 'moving' in your system, and therefore less likely to freeze. if the water is still, and temperatures plummit, your pipes risk freezing, which then expands as ice, and can rupture the copper piping. then, once it defrosts, you have a water leak which may be undiscovered for a good few weeks.

alternatively, do you have anyone going to check on the house on a regular basis whilst you are away?

littlereddevil

I never put mine off but I always leave my heating on low

luci

Check that your house insurance covers you for the property being empty for that length of time. Some are only 30 days.

Susan1942

Thanks for the replies which are very helpful. I have storage heaters and leave these on at around no 2. Not sure if I should leave the output on maybe 2 or 3. Usually I close these down at night and don't open them until the evening.
Had a thought that maybe I should not leave them all on 2 inliving room one in spare room and a large one in my own bedroom. Also hall.
On the insurance front. I have my insurance with RIAS and it covers me for up to 60 days. I am away 56 days. Also extended my annual travel insurance and paid a small premium to cover me also.
I live in an apartment on the top floor and have 2 neighbours below me. One has a key and I will ask her to check the flat regularly.
Many thanks again for such sound advice it is much appreciated.
8 weeks in Australia makes me smile when I see the rain outside and it is cold today!

Sue

Spursman180

With flats below you I wouldn't think you had an issue with freezing pipes as heat will permeate up. You don't say if you have people above, I came back a long time ago from a short break to find that above me had flooded the place with their washing machine and it only came to light when the water had worked its way to the flat below me. Upstairs had the habit of putting a wash on and going out to work.

Remember to leave the freezer on, aahh another cautionary tale.

Susan1942

Thanks again. No I am on the top floor so no danger from that!
A neighbour has a key and normally keeps an eye on things.
I ask her to turn the heating higher if the weather is particularly cold and then the day before I arrive back.

jammin_2

Susan1942 wrote: »

I ask her to turn the heating higher if the weather is particularly cold and then the day before I arrive back.

I must say, I find that a tad wasteful.

dzug1

Some insurance companies require that the water be turned off and the system drained if a place is unoccupied in the winter.

dickydonkin

Upstairs had the habit of putting a wash on and going out to work.

Never do that - never - washing machines and tumble driers can and frequently do cause domestic fires.

As for boilers, many central heating boilers automatically switch on when the water in the system falls below a certain temperature - well mine does anyway.

The only problem with leaving the heating on is that it will have no effect on exposed water pipes such as those in an attic or those which have external attachments for their garden hoses. Just make sure all exposed pipes are lagged because if an external pipe bursts, that may not be any good for a central heating system that has been left on over a holiday period.