Is your boiler outside and heating stuck on?

[RooBearsMum]

We have combo boiler (please note we are renting) and it is situated in an outside cupboard with frost protection. Since the recent cold snap here (Midlands UK) our heating is stuck on full all day. The plumber checked and because of the frost protection for the boiler, the system overrrides any inside thermostat settings when it falls below 0c. The only way to get the heating off, is to switch off the boiler so we have no heating or hot water). Is this normal? Apparently the boiler has been situated outside for at least ten years so it’s not a recent thing. I thought boilers were situated inside because of this? My landlady is quite elderly and a lovely lady who I don’t want to bother. Comments please! I’m sure citing the boiler inside would be a solution but it would cost so much for her and she’s been good about not increasing the rent so far.

Where is the cupboard? Can you put a heater in the cupboard to keep the cupboard above freezing? Our boiler is in what used to be our garage but we converted the garage so that room doesnt get as cold as a garage would

The cupboard is outside (think bin store). There is no power outlets and it wouldn’t be feasible to heat. I guess we just have to wait until it gets warmer.

Do you have a thermostat? Or turn down the radiator valves?

My landlady is quite elderly and a lovely lady who I don’t want to bother

Your landlady is responsible for the house you are renting from her.
Phone her right now.

Where is the thermostat, on the boiler? Is there a safe way to insulate it a bit, and trick it into thinking it’s a bit warmer?
You really don’t want the pipes to freeze though.

*I meant the thermostat that the boiler is using to check it is below freezing, not the one you have indoors.

Can you not turn the boiler on and off manually when you want heat and hot water? Definitely a faff but not sure how you get round the immediate problem.

Contact your landlord if it is stuck on all day they need to pay for the heating bill until it is unstuck. The boiler needs to be fit for purpose.

The frost stat on the boiler will make the boiler fire up but should not switch the heating on in the house. Sounds like a valve port issue.

Are there any water pipes in the cupboard, apart from the one leading to the boiler of course? I think the problem will be that if you turn off the boiler manually then those pipes might freeze or the condensate pipe will freeze, which means no heating or hot water at all.