Boiler setting/water off for long winter holiday??

[nomad5]

Going on holiday for a month today. Having not grown up in a house with central heating I still get confused about what to do with the heating and water when away!!

I was going to switch the thermostat down to about 12, turn the water temperature down to low. Gas combi boiler, terraced house.

Do I need to turn the water off at the mains too (as a Google search suggested)? Doesn't the boiler need access to water to keep working? My cleaner will come a couple of times, so she will need water access. Also neighbour will be checking in regularly (but probably won't go into the cellar, which is where my water mains are).

Thanks!!

During the summer I switch the water and boiler off. For winter, however, I checked with British Gas and they seemed to think if you were leaving the heating on that you should leave the water on too. Insurers prefer if the water is off. We usually leave the heating and water on in winter if away. Perhaps someone can advise me too!

It sure is confusing!! Neighbours will be coming by to water the plants and cleaner will need water to clean and fill the iron - so seems ridiculous to ask them to go down and turn the water off and on every time they drop by!!

I would leave everything as it is, just turn the heating down

If it was me OP, I'd leave the water and boiler on.

Leave the heating on. You will probably find it is a condition of your insurance that if you are absent for over 5 days that the heating is left in a minimum of 12 degrees. I personally leave it in 14.

Re water for heating. It only needs this if there is a header tank in the loft and the heating is loosing small amounts of water. I know as we had ours changed to a sealed pressurised system. You can tell as there will be a pressure gauge probably near or on the boiler with a filling loop and tap. If so it doesn't need a constant supply but if your heating is loosing water gradually you know as the pressure gradually drops

I would leave the water and heating on