Bags packed, lift booked, and then the question: what do you do with the heating while you’re away? If you’re leaving your home in Bognor Regis empty for a while this winter, don’t switch the heating off completely. Leave it on a low setting or the boiler’s frost protection mode, check the pressure before you go, and make sure you know where your stopcock is. If the boiler’s been playing up, it’s worth getting a boiler repair booked before you leave rather than after.
Why not just switch it all off?
It’s tempting to turn everything off and save money while nobody’s home. The risk is that a cold snap freezes water in your pipes. Water expands as it freezes, and that can split a pipe or joint. You often won’t know until the ice thaws and water starts pouring out, which could be days before anyone notices.
A small amount of heat keeps the pipes above freezing and is far cheaper than the clean-up after a burst pipe.
Setting the heating before you leave
Use frost protection or a low setting
Many boilers and programmers have a frost protection setting, sometimes shown as a snowflake symbol. It brings the heating on automatically if the temperature drops close to freezing. If yours doesn’t have one, set the heating to come on for a short spell morning and evening, with the thermostat turned down low, often around 10°C to 12°C. Check your boiler or thermostat manual for the exact setting.
Leave internal doors open
Open internal doors and the loft hatch, if it’s safe to do so, so a little warmth can reach pipes in colder spaces.
Leave radiator valves on
Don’t turn every radiator off. Set TRVs to a low number or the frost setting rather than fully closed, so heat can still circulate.
Hot water
If you have a hot water cylinder, you can switch the hot water off on the programmer while you’re away. Turn it back on when you’re home and give it time to heat up before you need a shower. Combi boilers heat water on demand, so there’s nothing extra to do.
A pre-holiday checklist
- Check the boiler pressure. Most combi and system boilers should read around 1 to 1.5 bar when cold. If it’s low, top it up following your manual.
- Find your stopcock. Make sure it turns, and tell whoever’s keeping an eye on the house where it is.
- Lag exposed pipes. Pipes in the loft, garage or on outside walls are most at risk.
- Fix dripping taps. A drip in a cold house can freeze and block a waste pipe.
- Ask a neighbour to look in. Someone checking every few days can spot a problem early.
My guide on protecting your pipes and boiler during a freeze has more detail on lagging and frozen pipes.
Going away for longer?
If a property will be empty for weeks or months, such as a holiday let between bookings or a home while you’re staying with family, check your home insurance. Some policies have conditions for unoccupied homes, such as keeping the heating at a minimum temperature or draining down the water system. If you’d like the system drained down, that’s a job for a heating engineer.
Leaving your home empty in Bognor Regis
Plenty of homes around Bognor Regis, Felpham and Aldwick sit empty for spells over winter while owners visit family or head somewhere warmer. Bungalows with pipes running through cold loft spaces, and homes close to the seafront that take the brunt of the wind, are worth extra care. A quick check of the boiler and pipework before you go is cheaper than a burst pipe when you get back.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I leave my heating on when I’m away?
Many people leave the thermostat at around 10°C to 12°C, or use the boiler’s frost protection setting. The aim is to keep pipes above freezing rather than keep the house comfortable. Check your insurance policy too, as some set a minimum temperature for empty homes.
Is it safe to leave my boiler on while I’m on holiday?
Yes. Boilers are designed to run unattended and will switch on and off as needed. Make sure it’s been serviced, the pressure is correct and there are no warning signs like leaks or fault codes before you go. If anything seems wrong, get it checked first.
Should I turn the water off at the stopcock when I go away?
Turning the water off reduces the damage if a pipe does burst. If you do, leave the heating on low or on frost protection. If you have a hot water cylinder or an older system, ask an engineer first, as some systems shouldn’t run without a water supply.
Off somewhere this winter?
If you’d like your boiler checked before you go, give me a call on 07545 916929 or drop me a message and I’ll make sure it’s ready to look after the house while you’re away.