What’s the lowest the heating can be so the pipes don’t freeze?

[MapleandAcorn]

MIL insists it must be 16 at a minimum to make sure the pipes don’t freeze, but I don’t think we can afford this.

What is the lowest it can be set on to
make sure the pipes don’t freeze?

The boiler might have a frost setting that prevents anything freezing. Anything above about 4⁰C should probably be ok. 16⁰C isn't that high tbh.

Surely pipes or the water in them freeze at zero ?
Or am I being spectacularly dim ?

Sits with @Massiveaggressive in the dim corner.

Most boilers have a frost setting but it won't be above 4C so MIL is wrong there.

my system has a frost setting that is 7 degrees.

Water inside the pipes is not going to be at room temperature so to be sure keep above 4C. I think the frost setting on some boilers is 10C . It is pretty rare for pipes to freeze inside the house. Damp would be my concern.

Our frost setting is 5degrees.

Ours is 6 degrees

Same here, our "holiday" or frost protect setting is 5 degrees C. Our house frequently falls below 16, at night especially

I think 16 degrees is the minimum temp advised by WHO because below that exposes you to respiratory issues caused by damp in the air.

Yes water freezes at zero but it begins to freeze before then, plus how can you be sure how accurate your thermostat is. I think the recommendation is a minimum of 6C to prevent freezing - whether that takes into account, outside pipes leading to your system, who knows!

Water will not freeze unless the temp is zero Celsius

Water starts to freeze at 4 degrees C.

Our frost setting on our heating system is 5 degrees. If we kept the house above 16 degrees all the time our heating would never be off!

After turning the heating off to go on holiday in January, I came back to a burst mains pipe in the loft and damage that took months to repair. Fortunately my neighbour had seen the water pouring out of the eaves and had my water turned off at the boundary. I was told by the insurance company that if I go away while it is cold I need to have my heating come on twice a day for an hour each time at 14 degrees. I think once in the evening and once in the very early hours.

Oh and I was also told to leave the loft hatch open while away in the winter.

All the advice I read/watch on TikTok for saving money I already do. May be my age!!! Anyone got any hard hitting advice? Especially about heating.

You're pipes won't freeze unless it's incredibly cold outside so you don't need it on 16 all winter if that what she's suggesting. Just for the handful of days it's actually that cold (which are getting less and less)

Mine is set at 5C. It only gets that low inside if I’m not here for a few days.

Depends where the pipes are. They might be in a place that is colder than your sitting room.

I haven’t got a clue where the pipes are! 🙈

Where is your boiler ? Find that and follow the pipes going in and out