Christmas with family or a week of winter sun? Leaving your Bristol or Bath home empty in the cold months needs a bit of planning. The main thing when going away in winter is not to switch your heating off completely. Leave it on a low setting or frost protection so the pipes don’t freeze, and make sure the boiler is in good working order before you go. If yours hasn’t had its annual boiler servicing yet, book it in a few weeks before you travel.
Why switching everything off is risky
When a house sits unheated in freezing weather, water in pipes can freeze and expand. Pipes in lofts, garages, under floors and along outside walls are most at risk. A split pipe often doesn’t show itself until the ice thaws, and then water can pour out for days before anyone notices.
Coming home to a ceiling down and soaked carpets is far worse than paying for a little background heat while you’re away.
Your pre-trip heating checklist
Two to three weeks before
- Make sure your boiler has been serviced in the last 12 months
- Test the heating and hot water properly, so any fault shows up while there’s time to fix it
- Check your home insurance for any conditions about leaving the property empty, as some policies have rules about heating or water when a home is unoccupied
The day before you leave
- Set the thermostat to a low temperature, or use holiday or frost mode if your controls have one
- Check the boiler pressure gauge is in the normal range shown in your manual
- Make sure you know where the stopcock is, and that it turns
As you head out
- Leave internal doors slightly open so warmth can circulate
- Open the loft hatch a little on very cold spells to let some heat into the roof space, where pipes and tanks may be
- If you have a hot water cylinder with an immersion heater, switch the immersion off
Should you turn the water off?
Turning the water off at the stopcock limits how much can escape if a pipe does fail. It’s a sensible step for longer trips. If you have a combi boiler, though, check your manual first. Some heating systems still need water pressure to run safely, so it’s worth asking an engineer what’s right for your setup.
For homes that will be empty for many weeks, such as a holiday let out of season or a property between tenants, having the system drained down by a professional is sometimes an option.
Ask someone to keep an eye on things
A neighbour, friend or family member popping in every few days can catch problems early. Show them where the stopcock is, how to check the boiler display, and leave them a number to call. Smart thermostats that let you check the temperature from your phone are also handy while you’re away.
Bristol and Bath winters: don’t be fooled by mild spells
Winters across Bristol and Bath are often fairly mild, which can make leaving the heating off seem tempting. But cold snaps do arrive, and homes in exposed spots on the edge of the Mendips or the Cotswold fringe around Bath can get much colder than city centre streets. Plan for the coldest night, not the average one. We look after homes right across the area, from Keynsham to Portishead.
If the worst does happen and you return to no heating, our guide on what to do when your central heating breaks down takes you through the first checks.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I leave the heating on when I’m away?
A low setting is enough. The aim isn’t comfort, it’s keeping pipes above freezing. Many people set the thermostat somewhere between 10°C and 15°C, or use the frost protection or holiday mode on their controls. Check your boiler manual, as frost settings vary between makes and models.
Will leaving the heating on low cost a lot?
It costs something, but usually far less than repairing water damage from a burst pipe. With nobody opening doors and the thermostat set low, the boiler only needs to run occasionally. Good loft insulation and lagged pipes reduce how often it needs to fire up.
Do I need my boiler serviced before going away?
It’s a good idea if it’s due. A service checks the boiler is working safely and efficiently, and can pick up worn parts that might fail. Having it done a few weeks before you travel gives time to sort any problems, rather than discovering them on a freezing night when nobody’s home.
Off somewhere this winter?
If you’d like your boiler checked before you travel, give us a call on 01275 400 687 or drop us a message and we’ll book a service in good time so you can go away with peace of mind.