When going away during the winter, how far can I turn the thermostat down – and still prevent pipes bursting in cold weather?
Household plumbing is often located in unheated areas of your home which are vulnerable to freezing even if the thermostat is turned up high. If you have exposed pipes in areas such as your garage, loft, crawl spaces and outside walls, they need to be protected with snap-on insulation. In theory the temperature alert threshold is 20F – about minus six degrees centigrade, however as long as it goes below freezing, your pipes can still be vulnerable when exposed to draughts. Setting the thermostat no lower than 12 degree celsius is the guideline, but remember it will not completely eliminate the risk of pipes bursting if no suitable insulation has been applied. If you are planning to go away for a long period of time, the best safeguard is to drain the water system completely. With no heating required it will also save a lot of energy – but ask your plumber for advice on how to do this first.
