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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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C/H in an empty house
I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my
house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#2
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"Hugo Nebula" abuse@localhost wrote in message ... I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? I looked after an empty house for nearly a year, everything was left on, the heating on a low setting, nothing went wrong, when I visited for the post the house was pleasantly warm. This was also excellent for when potential buyers went round to look. mrcheerful |
#3
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On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 08:01:44 GMT, "mrcheerful
.." wrote: I looked after an empty house for nearly a year, everything was left on, the heating on a low setting, nothing went wrong, when I visited for the post the house was pleasantly warm. This was also excellent for when potential buyers went round to look. That sounds a very good point. Empty houses with the heating off can smell musty very quickly. The radiators kicking in from time to time will circulate the air. -- On-line canal route planner: http://www.canalplan.org.uk (Waterways World site of the month, April 2001) |
#4
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In message , Hugo Nebula
writes I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? This house was empty when we bought it, heating was off and drained down, mains off, all water drained down. Alternatively leave it all on, including the mains water as you suggest. I'd probably not bother with leaving the Hot water coming on but won't do any harm. Check you insurance as well. Ours requires either the it all drained down, or left on to protect against frost. -- Chris French, Leeds |
#5
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Hugo Nebula wrote:
I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? I had this prob when selling me mums (empty) house. We left the services all connected and the CH coming on for an hour a day in the wee small hours (coldets time) to prevent frost damage and damp build up. The water was left on, but you can get a reduction in council tax and water rates for unoccupied premises. The gas and electricity are metered anwyay, so you just get a rebate or a low bill when the meters are finally read. |
#6
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The Natural Philosopher wrote:
The gas and electricity are metered anwyay, so you just get a rebate or a low bill when the meters are finally read. But make sure you're on a 'no-standing-charge' tarriff, certainly for electric amd probably for gas (depending on how much you heat the house) David |
#7
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On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 11:07:23 GMT, a particular chimpanzee named
Lobster randomly hit the keyboard and produced: But make sure you're on a 'no-standing-charge' tarriff, certainly for electric amd probably for gas (depending on how much you heat the house) I'm hoping it won't be for that long! Anyone want to buy a two-bed house in Bath? -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#8
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Hugo Nebula wrote:
Anyone want to buy a two-bed house in Bath? It's not in a "lively urban" area is it? Owain |
#9
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Im a plumber for a local council and carry out 20 30 drain downs for frost protection each year ch and domestic water you dont need to leave heating on to protect against frost you wasting money just drain everything down cold water storage tank central heating and hot water cylinder ( no water in pipework) don forget to turn all electrics off for central heating have a few lights come on by timer etc and turn gas off then forget it nothing more to worry about
kevin Last edited by bullet941 : March 20th 05 at 09:48 PM |
#10
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On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 13:34:17 +0000, a particular chimpanzee named
Owain randomly hit the keyboard and produced: Hugo Nebula wrote: Anyone want to buy a two-bed house in Bath? It's not in a "lively urban" area is it? Is that a euphemism for a war zone? If so, no. It's on the southern slopes, on the edge of the countryside but with easy access to the centre. -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#11
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Hugo Nebula has brought this to us :
I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? Ideally, it needs to be kept a few degrees above the outside temperature to keep it dry, but at a minimum of 5 deg C to protect against frost. As most control systems cannot do this, a reasonable compromise would be set it to maintain 10 deg C 24/7. With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? You also need to leave that on. -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT) (L) http://www.ukradioamateur.org |
#12
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In article ,
Hugo Nebula abuse@localhost writes: I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I've had to sort out similar situations for grand parents houses in the past, one of which stayed like this for 3 years. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Yes. You could probably set the house to around 10C, unless it's an older 9" brick wall construction in which case I found 13C was required to keep any damp smell away. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? No. Actually, conventional three-way valve connections are that the resting position is hot water, and the fully driven position is central heating. What you could do is fire up the heating for a few minutes every time you visit, if the outside temperature is such that it is unlikely to have run for some time otherwise. With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? I did turn off the water. On visits, check the level in the central heating header tank. It will drop anyway -- I kept a saucepan in the loft to top it up from the cold water storage tank. Might want to check your boiler isn't going to burst into flames if a leak should develop and empty the primary heating circuit. I certainly didn't turn off the electricity. Various timers and the like were rigged to make the houses look occupied (actually they probably looked more occupied than when they were really lived in;-). Probably not a good idea to do what one of my neighbours did though. Each time I walked past the house, you could clearly see the giant TV was on, but it was rather a giveaway that he apparently spent the 2 weeks watching a big blue screen with "No Signal" displayed on it;-) -- Andrew Gabriel |
#13
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"Hugo Nebula" abuse@localhost wrote in message ... I'm leaving for a new job 200 miles away. I haven't yet sold my house, so I'm going to have to leave it empty for a while. What should I do with the central heating? It's a standard boiler fed from a header tank, with a pump, radiators, a hot water tank and a three-way valve. I presume turning everything off entirely is not a good idea? I thought of leaving the heating setting to 'On' permanently and setting the room stat to low, just in case we get a late frost. Should I also set the hot water to come on for a few minutes, just to keep the three-way valve turning, and also to ensure that the boiler does fire up at least once a day? With the C/H running, I can't turn off the gas or electric. What about the water? I'd leave the heating on low but turn the water off. If the HW tank starts emptying for some reason from a major leak to a dripping tap the boiler will turn itself off and need a manual reset so there's no problem. Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. Good luck with the new job. |
#14
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In message , Mike
writes Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. A better option is probably to tell them. My insurance requires that it is heated to minimum temp - i think 10C if left unoccupied for more than I think 30 days -- Chris French, Leeds |
#15
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"chris French" wrote in message ... Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. A better option is probably to tell them. Unfortunately many won't cover the house after 30 days - even for an extra fee. |
#16
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In message , Mike
writes "chris French" wrote in message ... Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. A better option is probably to tell them. Unfortunately many won't cover the house after 30 days - even for an extra fee. I'm sure they won't. But then I'd find one who will, I'm sure it won't be that hard. My parents had to deal with this, and as it happens they had no problem with the insurance co. Fire while away from house. Oh where were the occupants? oh it's been empty has it, oh dear, you aren't covered for the 30 grand of repairs....... It really isn't worth it -- Chris French, Leeds |
#17
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On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 21:25:34 +0000, chris French
wrote: Fire while away from house. Oh where were the occupants? oh it's been empty has it, oh dear, you aren't covered for the 30 grand of repairs....... Surely this would be covered if you had demonstrably made arrangements for someone to visit the house on a regular basis just to check that everything is in order? I think I'd be worried about leaving a house completely unopened for an extended period of time. Andrew |
#18
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Mike wrote:
"chris French" wrote in message ... Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. A better option is probably to tell them. Unfortunately many won't cover the house after 30 days - even for an extra fee. AXA provide cover for up to 6 month absences. |
#19
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On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 19:58:16 -0000, a particular chimpanzee named
"Mike" randomly hit the keyboard and produced: Unfortunately many won't cover the house after 30 days - even for an extra fee. I've just spoken to my insurance company, and cover applies up to 365 days after being unoccupied. All that happens is that after 30 days and 90 days, the excesses increase. A little loophole for me is that it's only _consecutive_ days, so I could stay overnight once a month in order for the cover to stay as it is. -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#20
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Hugo Nebula wrote:
I've just spoken to my insurance company, and cover applies up to 365 days after being unoccupied. All that happens is that after 30 days and 90 days, the excesses increase. A little loophole for me is that it's only _consecutive_ days, so I could stay overnight once a month in order for the cover to stay as it is. If you do that, just make sure you document it or better yet keep some form of proof that you have stayed overnight, because if the place burned down between visits you can bet your life the insurance co will do their damnedest to prove otherwise! David |
#21
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"Mike" wrote in message
... [snip] Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. Why would the insurer be so gullible ? |
#22
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On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 07:38:25 +0100, a particular chimpanzee named
"Fergus O'Rourke" randomly hit the keyboard and produced: "Mike" wrote in message ... [snip] Also a good idea to leave heating on so that your insurance company will believe that it hasn't been unoccupied should the worst happen. Why would the insurer be so gullible ? Indeed; the complete lack of furniture, the 'For Sale' sign outside and the contact details two hundred miles away are clues to a trained claims investigator that the place is not occupied. -- Hugo Nebula "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?" |
#23
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I've lived without central heating in my particular house for donkey's
years, and from experience I know this place isn't plagued with damp or burst pipes at the coldest or wettest of times. I'm putting in CH as I speak (well write... well while I'm writing this I'm not putting in CH but you know what I mean...). Personnally I wouldn't leave it on unoccupied in the winter, let alone now and in fact plan to turn it *off* during cold snaps to keep the bug population down. I would drain the system, esp tanks in summer months. Then again I live in a terraced in a dry-ish part of the country, if the OP has a cold, damp detached in Scotland or on Lizard Point or in a flood plain that might make a difference, but otherwise think of your bills and the planet!. DIYSOS |
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