Is it safe for the house to leave it without heat in the winter when I go away? ?
I have a small house with no basement, just crawl space. Is it better to leave heat on when I go away for some months? I would prefer to drain all the pipes but don't want the house to suffer for lack of heat. Any advice is most appreciated!
There is water in the heating pipes.
Should I just drain all the other pipes except the heating pipes (to avoid burst pipes)? Or is it ok/safe for house to drain heating pipes to and not have any heat for some months?
6 Answers
- daniel gLv 73 weeks ago
Worst case is exposed pipes may freeze and break if temps get that cold.
Insulated plumbing wrap usually solves that.
- 3 weeks ago
It's much easier to leave the heating on a low setting. This will stop pipes freezing and prevent condensation. 10C/50F would be fine.
- Name WithheldLv 73 weeks ago
We winter in Florida and after a few years learned: although it must get well below freezing for the inside of the house to go below 40, the house gets musty, mildew forms and even mold . . . . wallpaper tends to come loose and neighbors say they've had damaged plaster and paint . . . . electronics like the tv, stereo etc can deteriorate, controls corrode, ice forms in the attic, windows warp, etc, etc. etc.
all--in--all, it's better for the house and contents to keep it heated - - not necessary to be warmer than 45 or 50 degrees or so - - - - unless it goes to 20 below zero, the cost to keep the house at that level is not too bad.
And . . . you clean-out the 'fridge, but leave it closed and turned-on to the warmest setting: otherwise you'll get vermin in it and compressor & wiring will suffer.
Turn-off the water main & hot water tank and water softener if you have one. Our cable company let's us go "on vacation" once a year with no charge for internet & tv.
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- it is iLv 53 weeks ago
Make sure the pipes and hot water tanks and all are completely drained and it should be no problem. Get a GOOD plumber to do it for you at least the first time. He should use compressed air to blow out the pipes that can't drain naturally.
- DeMoNsLaYeR575Lv 73 weeks ago
if there is no water in the pipes then you can leave the heat off.
just let the whole house heat up for about a day before using any electronics (as the temperature change can damage them due to moisture)
Best answer🙂