What to do if your property is unoccupied for long periods
Check out our top tips on precautions you can take to mitigate the risk of burst pipes in an unoccupied property
Landlords with holiday homes or rental properties that may be vacant for long periods have a responsibility to prevent burst pipes and avoidable insurance claims and need to take extra precautions.
This may cost a little more in bills but will help protect your property from the expense of repairing damage should pipes burst. As already mentioned, it is recommended to leave the heating permanently on at least 13°C, especially during very cold periods, rather than for short bursts at a higher temperature.
Essential during frost or if you have certain types of heating systems such as storage heaters, which do not provide the continuous levels of heat that are required to prevent pipes from freezing.
If your property will be vacant over winter, the safest thing to do is to drain down and shut off the water/ central heating system so that there is nothing in the pipes to freeze. It is not enough to simply turn off the water as there will still be water in the system and tanks, which can cause damage in the event of a burst pipe. Seek the advice of a plumber or heating engineer on how to drain down the water and central heating system.
During freezing temperatures leave the loft hatch door open to allow the warmer air from your holiday home to circulate up and around the water tank and water pipes.
During a particularly cold spell it is useful if you can arrange for a neighbour or housekeeper to check your property regularly. This will increase the chances of detecting frozen or burst pipes early and minimise damage.