Empty property worried about frosts

[Flippertyfloppertyflip]

I’m trying to sell my late MIL’s property. I’ve just reduced the price so hopefully it will sell soon.

In the meantime, I’m worried about the winter. I’m completely clueless about these things, so any help would be welcome.

I’ve turned the water off at the stopcock under the sink. When it gets colder, is there anything else I should do? Do I need the heating on low? Is it even possible to have the heating on, with the water off? Do I need to turn all the taps on to drain the system? Help and thanks.

Whatever precautions you take I hope that your insurer knows that it’s empty. The premiums may go up a bit but you’ll be covered. I had to tell them that I or someone else would check it every week. I have done this with 2 houses now and left the heating on, to kick in at a low temp.
Also have lights on timers that are changed regularly.

Yes I have empty property insurance sorted thanks.

Drain the heating system down. Given your lack of knowledge you will need to have a plumber do this. Also empty the pipes of water by turning on the taps when the main stopcock is off.

Wouldn’t it be better to have the heating on low?

Check your insurance - ours (also for an empty property) requires us to have the heating on low. The insurance is literally not valid if it isn't!

I think it’s better to have the heating on low. No damage to pipes etc and the building won’t get damp. Ideally you want some on checking every couple of days as well

While we were selling my late mother’s house, it was a condition of the insurance that the heating was kept on at a certain level over winter, 15 degrees from memory. Check if your insurance has a similar condition.

I would definitely keep the heating on low over the winter months.
If you're trying to sell it would be best to keep the house a little warm for viewers - nothing more off putting than a freezing house. Also, if you let it get very cold and then bang the heating right up for viewings, then back off again 00you might get condensation problems.

One other thing, could you leave a light on one of those timer plugs to make the house look inhabited?

Currently dealing with similar and the insurance stipulates that the heating must be left on with the thermostat set to 16°. The property also has to be visited once a week just to check it hasn't developed any problems (leaks, cracks etc). Empty property insurance is very specific about a lot of things so you would be best to read the policy document. Remember insurers will try and wiggle out of paying if they can so best to be able to prove you've done what they require.

We also left the heating on low when MIL’s property was empty. Insurance said someone had to visit once a month as well.

If there are thermostats on each radiator I would turn them.to low (sometimes appears as an *). If not I would set main thermostat at about 10 degrees, and leave the doors open so that air can circulate.

What happens if there's no central heating?

Thanks everyone.

If you have central heating then leave it on a low setting.
Alternatively, shutting off the stopcock is not enough and you have to completely drain down as well.

Cautionary tale.
When I bought my first house it was a bit of a state (actually it was a dump!) and my Ddad and myself would go there most evenings/weekends for three months to decorate etc until at least part of it was habitable.
Middle of (a very harsh🥶) winter, the house did not have central heating (just gas & electric heaters) so there was no way of keeping it warm, instead we just shut off the water each time we left. One day we went back, turned the water on and tried to warm the building up. As it got warmer, we suddenly discovered we had multiple burst pipes (seven in total) which my Ddad then spent all day fixing.😭

Another caution is about condensation in empty, closed up buildings.
One day (a different day to the tale above) we started work and found water running down the walls and actual puddles forming on the (tiled) kitchen floor. I immediately assumed burst pipes again but my Ddad said it was condensation (although I was not convinced at the time). We opened all the doors & windows (still a cold day) and low & behold, a couple of hours later the water had gone.

I lived in that house for three years and when being lived in & heated, I never suffered condensation or frozen pipes.🙂

Well the policy documents should tell you what you need to do to ensure that the pipes don't freeze. It usually says that it needs to also be inspected every few days.

You would need to check with your insurance but I suppose you would have to drain your system.

Basically cut off the incoming mains water and open the taps so the immersion tank drains I guess

When we were selling my DGMs house we had the heating on low so we wouldn't get burst pipes and it took the edge off when we went there to sort out. We also opened doors and windows whilst we were there so it didn't smell musty.

I hope it sells soon!

Tell the insurers and follow their instructions. There will be a minimum temperature to set the heating. Google to find if you can switch off the water with that system.

I'm currently overseeing a late relative's empty house.

The insurers require the heating to be set at at least 10 degrees, but we've had it at 18 to keep the fabric of the house warm.

The insurers also require someone to visit the house at least every 2 weeks.

We had a house empty for a winter and we left the central heating on low, despite my partner saying it was a waste.

Partners ex had the same thing but turned the heating off, pipes burst and house flooded, insurance refused to pay out.

That's if she has an immersion heater. Most people have combis and then I think that you would have to drain the whole system.

But then you have to worry about having no heating and the fabric of the building being adversely affected if you do this during winter.

You either keep the temp above 12° or drain absolutely everything down, boiler, rads, hot and cold tanks if any, which can cause all sorts of problems with airlocks when refilled if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Far easier to set the room stats or the coldest room stat at 12°.

Cold houses also get damp very quickly.

We have the heating set to come on at 10 degrees in one property and we have a nest thermostat in the other so can see what's happening there. Can't wate to get confirmation and get them on the market. Fortunately we have a cleaner who goes in once a week to check everything as they are an hour away from us.

If your insurance stipulates the heating must be on, then whilst there's a cost it will be a lot simpler.

I would also use some form of remote monitoring to check the heating is actually working, although I appreciate this may not be so easy if the broadband connection isn't enabled. Unless you're able to visit when you know it's sub-zero

If you are able to leave the heating off, get a plumber to empty the heating, storage tank(s), toilet cisterns and anything else that might freeze.

And put a note on the toilet that it's not to be used....