Turning off the Water Stop Valve.

progressive_uk

Whats the collective wisdom on turning off the stop valve before you go on holiday? I'm going away for about 10 days over the Xmas period and am concerned that a burst pipe anywhere in the system potentially floods the house.

I plan to leave the heating on a low setting, but boiler PCB is playing up a bit, and very occasionally stops working, causing me to need to press the reset button, which always does the job. Obviously if I am away for a long period, I won't be able to do this.

My understanding is that the heating system is self-contained (and there would remain a small amount of water in the loft unit that could top up if needed), so surely a prudent precaution would be turn the mains water off at the stopcock and then drain the cold taps in the house? (The hot water taps are drawn from the mains water as well and are heated by means of an exchange)

If it helps anybody, I have a Gledhill BoilerMate linked with a Potterton Boiler.

ormus

generally its best to leave everything alone on the CH system.
can you not get a friend/neighbour to check the boiler reset every day?

andy208833

Or get the problem fixed......

ormus

with pcb,s costing 250 quid or so, its cheaper to pay for a mates taxi every day.

andy208833

Can afford the holiday though...... priorities?

progressive_uk

To be fair to me, the holiday is hostels booked and paid for months ago, and is winter walking within the UK. The only real costs are petrol and food, and I would have had to pay for food anyway, and the petrol cost is shared. I would be surprised if the outlay from me over the trip breaks £150.

I'm aware the problem needs a more permanent solution, though I didn't ask for judgements, just the viability of a proposal.

I will probably just leave the heating on near enough constant at about 15C. I have a friend who can check it in the later half of my trip. Hopefully that should be enough to prevent the temperature causing a freeze.

andy208833

Am sure the cost of damage will be more than £250 though.

Is it worth taking the chance, not judging you just offering possible moneysaving advice?

john_howard_fisher

1. close main stopcock
2. open cold water
3. open hot water
4. leave heating on low setting
5. put electric heater in loft close to water
6. go on holiday
7. come back
8. check property
9. report back to HQ (here) no water leaks / frozen pipes
10. think of good memories at winter break

diable

john_howard_fisher wrote: »

1. close main stopcock
2. open cold water
3. open hot water
4. leave heating on low setting
5. put electric heater in loft close to water thermostat fails heater overheats and sets fire to your loft
6. go on holiday
7. come back
8. check property
9. report back to HQ (here) no water leaks / frozen pipes
10. think of good memories at winter break

Just make sure your insurance is up to date............

ormus

a 1 bar electric fire running at 13/15p per hour?
i dont think so.

progressive_uk

I'm definitely not leaving an electric heater on (1. The cost; 2. The fire risk).

The chances of the house actually getting cold enough for a frozen pipe are low. Sadly my working hours don't allow for me to have a plumber out easily (I am a sole occupant atm).