Going away on holiday is a fun and exciting time, but there are some practical things that you need to think about before jetting off. One of the things that needs to be sorted out before you go is your boiler. However, there are so many different types of boilers and water heater systems available now that it can be difficult to know what to do. From combi boilers with a separate water heater, to boilers you can control from your mobile phone, it can get a bit confusing.
Keeping your boiler on or off when you leave your house for a week or two is something that is much debated amongst holiday goers. If you do not know what the best course of action is, keep reading to find out if you should switch your boiler off during the holidays.
Whether you turn your boiler off when you go on holiday depends on the time of year you are going away. If you are going away during summer, you can get away with turning off your boiler. However, if you turn your boiler off during the winter months, you may experience issues.
When the temperature drops in the winter, you run the risk of water pipes freezing and bursting. If you experience frozen pipes, and your water pipe bursts, you may experience leaks and flooding, which is a huge problem if you are away and no one is checking your house.
Thankfully, in the summer, you do not need to worry about preventing your pipes from freezing because the weather is warm and your pipes are not vulnerable to freezing. In fact, if you go away during the summer, you can turn your boiler off. However, if you go away in winter, we recommend leaving your boiler switched on and having your hot water tank running at a lesser rate.
There are things that you can do to mitigate the risk of your pipes freezing whilst you are away on holiday, which includes installing frost protection or some form of padding around your pipes. This will ensure they remain insulated and warm even if the weather outside drops below zero.
Leaving your boiler off and not having any hot water running when you are away will be cheaper. However, the short-term money that you have the ability to save might not be economically beneficial in the long run.
If your central heating system is off the whole time you are away, you will save money. However, if you are away in the winter and there is a significant cold spell, your pipes might burst, and then you will have to pay a significant amount of money to get them fixed as well as replace any damaged things in your home.
Although you might save a small amount on energy bills by having your boiler switched off, it could also cause you more problems and cost you more money, so it is better to have it running, at least partially, by setting a timer, so that hot water is running through the pipes.
If you decide to switch off your boiler before going on holiday, it is actually fairly easy to do, as it is controlled through a thermostat. Your thermostat is flexible so whilst you can have it turned off the entire time you are away, you can also set it so that your boiler runs for a few hours every day.
This is the best of both worlds as you save money by not having it running all day and you avoid the risk of your pipes bursting. Modern boilers are often fitted with a smart thermostat, which can be used from anywhere, making them very useful when you are on holiday. You know that your water heater and boiler are turned on if your pilot light is on. If your pilot light is off, it means your boiler is off.
The programmable thermostat is connected to an app on your phone, so, through the app, you can turn it on and off and set a timer from miles away. Newer boilers also often have additional settings, such as away mode and standby mode which allow you to set lower temperatures that are below your usual usage rates, which is also a great option if you are going abroad and are worried about your boiler.
Book an annual check-up before you go away
Turning your boiler off for long periods of time could cause central heating problems. When your boiler runs, it makes sure that all the parts are working. However, if your boiler is turned off, these working parts can become faulty.
The best thing to do if you want to turn your boiler off before you go on holiday is to have a professional plumber come round and give your boiler an annual check. Doing this will ensure that there are no issues that might be exacerbated whilst you are away. Plumbers will check all things related to your boiler, such as source heat pumps, the conditions of your pipes, and give it a general maintenance check.
If you are thinking about getting a new boiler, whether it be a traditional boiler, a combi boiler, or even a thermodynamic water heater, our professional plumbers at Plomberie Pro Drain are here to help. In addition to our installation services, we also offer emergency plumbing services.
Here are some of the plumbing services we provide:
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