Should you leave your heating on if you’re going away this winter?

Many families may consider turning the heating off to conserve energy this winter, but that might not be the best approach. (Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire)

With the price of energy becoming one of the biggest drivers of the cost of living crisis, it’s unsurprising that some households are evaluating when and how much they use their heating this year.

Whether it’s turning down radiators in rooms that aren’t in use or various energy-saving hacks, many families are looking to save money on their energy bills, with some even being fooled by energy-saving myths.

If you’re going away this winter, whether on business or for fun, it would only be natural to consider turning off the heating off to save on bills.

Despite the relatively mild weather so far this year, cold temperatures can still play havoc with your home – especially when it comes to damp or frozen pipes.

So, should you leave your heating on if you’re going away this winter?

Here’s what you need to know.

Should you leave your heating on if you’re going away?

During the summer, the warmer weather should mean that you can turn your boiler off without any problems when heading off on holiday.

However, during the winter, this can prove more complicated.

My-plummer.co.uk recommend keeping your boiler on when you are away in the winter to avoid any freezing pipes.

However, they also say it is important to consider the age and condition of your boiler.

If you have an older unit prone to faults, leaving it on while you are away may be understandably concerning.

Even newer systems can have problems if they aren’t properly maintained. So it’s essential to get your boiler regularly serviced by a certified professional to feel comfortable leaving it on while you are away.

What to do with your boiler if you’re going away this winter

If you are going away and planning on leaving your boiler on, you may want to consider doing one of the following:

Turn your thermostat down

Adjusting your thermostat to between 15 to 18 degrees should keep enough warmth in your home without being quite as bad for the bank balance.

My Plummer says: ‘Present-day temperature regulators are the best tools to guarantee ideal comfort. With modern units, you can set the heating to turn on just before your return.

‘In any case, using this sort of convenient benefit implies that you have to leave the boiler on.’

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Activate the frost protection setting

Some boilers have a frost protection setting that will allow the unit to continue to run but at a reduced temperature, which is ideal when you’re going away.

My Plummer says: ‘Depending on the type of system you have, some boilers switch off all by themselves when frost protection is active.’

‘The setting is ideal if you’d like to prevent heating issues and keep your fuel bills low.’

You may want to consider turning down your thermostat rather than turning your heating off entirely while you are away during the winter. (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Use your boilers timer

Using your boilers timer setting to keep it running for just an hour or so every day may be enough to prevent freezing but try to ensure it is set to run at the time when temperatures are likely to be at their lowest.

Turn off your hot water tank

If your home has a hot water tank, your boiler’s job will be to heat it. However, while you are away, this isn’t going to be needed.

My Plummer says: ‘your boiler’s job is to heat the water in it and maintain the precise temperature level. 

‘Since your home won’t be needing any hot water while you are away, better switch that function off. Turn off every water tank while you are on a holiday.’

Phone a friend

If, for some reason, none of the above options are available, then asking a trusted friend, relative, or neighbour with a spare key to pop by and run the boiler for a short time periodically will be an ideal solution.

Whatever you decide, it’s also important to check your home insurance policy when going away, to see if it contains any relevant information.

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If you’re heading away this winter, here is what you need to know about your heating.