Terrified of pipes freezing

Welshspacechick

Can anyone advise please?

I moved 9 months ago to my first house (been in flats till now). The house has a log burner in the lounge and an ideal combi boiler which is currently set to winter mode. I have the central heating set to come on for 45 mins in the morning from 6.30-7.15 and use hot water through the day as normal. We use the log burner in the evening as that keeps the cottage cosy without having the central heating on.

I guess my question is whether this is enough to stop the pipes from freezing. The boiler does have a freeze mode where it kicks in if it worries its getting too low but I think that's something mad like 5 degrees. I only have radiator controls so can't set it to automatically come if it drops to a certain temperature eg 14 degrees like I did in my old flat.

Should I put the boiler on for longer/more? We really want to use the stove as much as possible to save money and are well stocked with logs,  but not at the expense of a large plumber bill!

Thanks

MikeJXE

If your boiler comes on at 5 degrees why are you worring, when I was at school freezing was 32 f or now 0 centigrade, you are way above that

Welshspacechick

Yes but the outside is -4. So as long as the temperature in the house is warm is that ok even if it's not being made warm by the boiler.? Sorry if these are perceived as stupid questions but like I said it's the first time I've had to worry about this. 

diystarter7

MikeJXE said:

If your boiler comes on at 5 degrees why are you worring, when I was at school freezing was 32 f or now 0 centigrade, you are way above that

@MikeXJE

Hi

The boiler freeze mode will only kick in if the boiler itself water temp goes that low not the pipes in the loft etc is what the plumber told one of our kids as thye have a boiler in the loft as it often can get colder there. The plumber also said these anti freeze modes are often aimed at boilers in cold places like a garage/loft etc.  Therefore MikeXJE, IMO it it is the boiler temp and not the temp of water in pipes etc

Therefore, OP, where is your boiler fitted? Are your pipes protected?

I've just looked up the anti freeze sytem in the newer boilers, by "never" I'm not sure how new they have to be and if it is standardised fitting to all boilers - so check.

https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/articles/frost-protection-heating

Welshspacechick

Thanks scarter we use the GCH for 45 mins every morning and it provides our hot water throughout the day. Do you think that's enough? 

diystarter7

Deleted_User said:

Welshspacechick said:

Can anyone advise please?

I moved 9 months ago to my first house (been in flats till now). The house has a log burner in the lounge and an ideal combi boiler which is currently set to winter mode. I have the central heating set to come on for 45 mins in the morning from 6.30-7.15 and use hot water through the day as normal. We use the log burner in the evening as that keeps the cottage cosy without having the central heating on.

I guess my question is whether this is enough to stop the pipes from freezing. The boiler does have a freeze mode where it kicks in if it worries its getting too low but I think that's something mad like 5 degrees. I only have radiator controls so can't set it to automatically come if it drops to a certain temperature eg 14 degrees like I did in my old flat.

Should I put the boiler on for longer/more? We really want to use the stove as much as possible to save money and are well stocked with logs,  but not at the expense of a large plumber bill!

Thanks

We've got a 4 bed bungalow, logburner and gas CH. So similar setup. We're (for the most part) ONLY using the woodburner. Were home all day.

But yes, it's a concern. 

Now it's very cold we've put the CH to come on if temps fall to 12 degrees. It's only come on once - so woodburner is doing a good job. 

However, we still need to pay attention because it's possible that whilst the hall (where the thermostat is) doesn't get below 12 degrees it doesn't mean some of the unused rooms aren't getting much colder.

Can you set all of your radiators to defrost then put the boiler on for a very short spell every so often? This will get water circulating which will fend off any risk of burst pipes.

Great post and something I advocate especially when away from home
Even the rooms we hardly use the TVR are never closed and always set just above the frost setting
When we are out overnight in winter which is rare and we know temaps are low, we leave the heating on at very low temps - you come back to a warmish house and no burst pipes.

Thanks

comeandgo

Welshspacechick said:

Thanks scarter we use the GCH for 45 mins every morning and it provides our hot water throughout the day. Do you think that's enough? 

Well the colder temperatures are at night so what is happening during the day may not be enough.

diystarter7

Deleted_User said:

MikeJXE said:

If your boiler comes on at 5 degrees why are you worring, when I was at school freezing was 32 f or now 0 centigrade, you are way above that

I think she's right to be concerned. The temp at the boiler could feasibly be several degrees higher than the temp in cold rooms in the house. Who knows how cold it's getting under floorboards etc.

It's a concern we have too. I get nervous at any temperature below 10 at the thermostat - it could easily be as low as 7 in some of the rooms and lower at cold spots under floorboard etc. A sudden dip in outside temps and it could be enough for pipes to freeze.

Whenever we move house we have new cH and have all the pipes removed from the loft and the water tank. However, a rental bungalow had the water tank removed but some pipes still have to be up there for easier access to bathrooms - they are lagged but I too worry as T's often go away at Xmas.

Thanks

Boat_to_Bolivia

I think you may be worrying too much. If your home is comfortably warm I can't see why your pipes would freeze. Have the boiler on the freeze setting, it will kick in if it gets too cold.

SergeantBaker

Welshspacechick said:

Thanks scarter we use the GCH for 45 mins every morning and it provides our hot water throughout the day. Do you think that's enough? 

Hot water as in from taps?

If so that's nothing to do with the heating system. 

chris_n

If you own the house and are losing sleep about pipes freezing put some trace heating on them under the insulation. They are insulated, aren't they