Leaving empty house in winter - what to turn off (merged threads)

LandyAndy

We used to have neighbours who, when they went away on holiday, always pulled their cars right up tight to their garage door instead of just parking them normally on their drive. It was like a big banner on the front of their house saying 'We aren't going to be here for a week or two'

jackieblack

LandyAndy wrote: »

We used to have neighbours who, when they went away on holiday, always pulled their cars right up tight to their garage door instead of just parking them normally on their drive. It was like a big banner on the front of their house saying 'We aren't going to be here for a week or two'

Our car will be on the drive at the side of the house, where it usually is anyway. DD's BF's car will be parked behind it for the whole period though, rather than just a few evenings & weekends, but there's no practical alternative (he's coming with us).

Suzy_M

LandyAndy wrote: »

We used to have neighbours who, when they went away on holiday, always pulled their cars right up tight to their garage door instead of just parking them normally on their drive. It was like a big banner on the front of their house saying 'We aren't going to be here for a week or two'

:rotfl:We've got neighbours like that - The only time they ever close their drive gates is when they are away on holiday.

Humour aside for security make your house look as normal as possible - I don't think taking bins in has been mentioned yet.

Biggles

jackieblack wrote: »

We have thermostatic radiator valves, numbered 1-5, I have no idea what 10-12°C would be.

Isn't there one room thermostat, eg in the hall? If so, set it and leave TRVs on the usual setting. If not, leave running and set all TRVs at 1.

Hot water tank in airing cupboard on landing, but fed from a cold water tank in the loft. Would leaving the airing cupboard door open help?

Won't make any difference if the water's not on, but leaving the loft hatch open will help protect the tank and pipes in the loft.

Wouldn't open curtains during darkness (from about 3pm here) advertise that just as much?

Nowhere near as much as leaving them closed during the daytime, it just shouts, "We're away for ages!". But if your neighbours are likely to pop in, as you suggested, you could always ask them to draw the curtains at night and open them in the morning....

jackieblack

Biggles wrote: »

Isn't there one room thermostat, eg in the hall? If so, set it and leave TRVs on the usual setting. If not, leave running and set all TRVs at 1

No room thermostat

Biggles wrote: »

Won't make any difference if the water's not on, but leaving the loft hatch open will help protect the tank and pipes in the loft.

Hot water will be on when CH is on

Biggles wrote: »

Nowhere near as much as leaving them closed during the daytime, it just shouts, "We're away for ages!". But if your neighbours are likely to pop in, as you suggested, you could always ask them to draw the curtains at night and open them in the morning....

Curtains often closed until mid-morning if we're not having to get up early to go to work, DH closes them if he's playing computer game and sun is shining in (much to my annoyance) and they're closed from about 3pm when it starts to get dark (although usually lamps go on then)
Neighbours will pop in every couple of days, but not twice a day to open/close curtains

27col

A friend of mine who lives in Cyprus some of the time has his curtains controlled by a motor and a light sensor to open when it gets light and to close when it gets dark.

macman

LandyAndy wrote: »

We used to have neighbours who, when they went away on holiday, always pulled their cars right up tight to their garage door instead of just parking them normally on their drive. It was like a big banner on the front of their house saying 'We aren't going to be here for a week or two'

Does anyone these days ever actually park their car in the garage?

jackieblack

macman wrote: »

Does anyone these days ever actually park their car in the garage?

My parents (in their 70s) do

SuzieSue

Check what your buildings and contents insurance policies say about leaving your house unoccupied.

jackieblack

SuzieSue wrote: »

Check what your buildings and contents insurance policies say about leaving your house unoccupied.

Just says won't be covered if house unoccupied for more than 60 days
Not a problem