Heating over 'winter'

Infidel · 9 October 2017 at 2:18PM

Hi.

Finally it's time to set sail for sunnier climes and taking elderly relatives (for a perceived better quality of life). If all goes well we'll probably stay there for the whole winter . . so several months.

Just a quick one regarding money saving and also possibly cold damage to a property.

About the heating - at my relatives house - say best case scenario means we won't be be back until March time. What's the best thing to do about the heating?

It's an old boiler and heating system. Certainly from the 70-80's at least. The heat system only allows the heat to be set to come on twice (and go off twice). [It's a Randall 3060 for those interested].

Currently I've set the thermostat to 120 degrees (down from the ridiculously hot 170 it was set at) and set the heat to come on twice a day for 1hr (at midnight and at 5.30am).

So what does one think. Is that okay? Or should I turn the thermostat down and possibly put the heat on for longer? Or maybe leave it off altogether?

Obviously it's guess work as I have no idea what UK winter might be like, but at the same time I'm conscious of the bills adding up when not necessary.

Thanks.

cranford · 9 October 2017 at 3:10PM

Please take advice from the properties insurance company on what you can and cant do when you are leaving a property vacant for more than a few weeks. if you don't contact them your insurance could become invalid.

JJ_Egan · 9 October 2017 at 3:13PM

As above its a bit many miss but have ticked the box saying property is occupied on the insurance sign up .

matelodave · 9 October 2017 at 3:59PM

You may well find that the insurance requires someone to visit the propery on a regular basis especially if you are away for a prolonged period.

Likewise they could require all water systems to be drained down - check your T&C's very carefully. I am assuming that the place is insured.

Ebe_Scrooge · 9 October 2017 at 4:14PM

Infidel wrote: »

Currently I've set the thermostat to 120 degrees

Really ??? That's close on 50 degrees centigrade !!!

OK, quite apart from the very valid - and important - points made already regarding insurance, the simplest thing is to turn the heating off, but make sure you get a frost-stat fitted if there isn't one already. Basically this will fire up the heating if the temperature drops below ( usually ) about 5 or 6 degrees.

The alternative is to set the heating to come for a couple of hours at, say, 1:00 am ( likely the coldest part of the night ), at a temperature of about 15 degrees or so. That should keep the house warm enough to prevent any damage from freezing, and keep it warm enough throughout the day, without costing a fortune.

Or else you can drain the whole system right down and turn off the water at the mains, then you shouldn't have to worry about burst pipes at all.

matelodave · 9 October 2017 at 4:19PM

Actually the coldest part of of the night is around 0400-0600 just before dawn

footyguy · 9 October 2017 at 5:07PM

cranford wrote: »

Please take advice from the properties insurance company on what you can and cant do when you are leaving a property vacant for more than a few weeks. if you don't contact them your insurance could become invalid.

+1

I've had quite a few unoccupied property insurance policies over the years.

(I'm sure it will be classed as unoccupied, as holiday breaks in usual (occupied) house cover is typically restricted to periods not exceeding 28 days)

Typical requirements are from Oct-Mar inclusive, the heating is left on continuously 24/7 to maintain a room temperature of at least 12 degress C (sometimes as high as 15degrees C)
Also, a requirement to prop open the loft hatch (if available) by at least 12" is not an uncommon term.

Failure to do so would invalidate any claim for damage to the property by water loss.
(alternatively, drain down completely all water systems to prevent such damage in the first place)

Also, very common term is that the property must be inspected (internally & externally) at least once every 7 days (sometimes 14 days), attention given to any remedial action required, and log kept.
Failure to do so may invalidate insurance cover

This isn't intended as a full list of requirements, but an example of some of the typical requirements I see in almost all unoccupied house insurance policies.
So do tell your insurer, and check you comply with the terms they impose.

AndyPK · 9 October 2017 at 6:43PM

I would set it to somewhere between 5 and 8°C

You could just set the timer to ON and that would be the safest option.
Shouldn't be any icing and thawing that causes burst pipes,
and kinder to boiler.

You could fit a frost stat of course.

make sure you leave all the radiators on, (including upstairs)

colin79666 · 10 October 2017 at 5:37PM

Maintain around 15 degrees to keep condensation/damp out of the equation and to keep insurers happy. That also gives a bit of wiggle room if the thermostat is wonky or we get a sudden cold snap and 2 hours a day heating isn't enough. As above a couple of hours in the small hours or an hour at 6am and another at 8pm should be enough unless it is a poorly insulated house.

AndyPK · 10 October 2017 at 6:22PM

setting it at 15°C is gonna costs loads £xxx

reeac · 11 October 2017 at 7:58AM

The OPs quoted temperatures of 120 and 170 are presumably boiler stat settings in Fahrenheit. I believe that this needs to be above a certain level (something like 150) in order to avoid excessive internal condensation and corrosion. Maybe the house has no roomstat (not that uncommon) in which case best to rely on judicious setting of the timer. Not easy to judge ...it would be advisable to get someone to look in once or twice a week.

Heating over 'winter'

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