We're heading off on holiday in April 2013 for two weeks.
When we're away, what is the best setting for the thermostat if there is a risk of a frost at any point (i.e. to guard against burst pipes etc), in order to minimise any heating costs during the period we're away on holiday?
Is it best to:-
(a) Switch the central heating off completely (as it would have to be incredibly cold for the pipes to burst/spring a leak)?
(b) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 15 degrees and keep the central heating control on the boiler on its current timer (7.30am-8.15am; 6pm-9.30pm), whilst keeping the thermostatic valves at setting 5 (maximum);
(c) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 15 degrees and keep the central heating control on the boiler on its current timer (7.30am-8.15am; 6pm-9.30pm), and turn the thermostatic valves to the "frost free" setting (I assume this is what the snowflake shape on the thermostatic valve is);
(d) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 10 degrees and have the central heating control on the boiler set to "on" all the time, with the valves turned to frost free;
(e) Turn the main thermostat to "frost free" (I assume this is the star shape in attached pic of main thermostat), have central heating control on boiler set to "on", and have all thermostatic valves set to frost free;
(f)Something else?
We live in Scotland, just outside Edinburgh.
When we're away, what is the best setting for the thermostat if there is a risk of a frost at any point (i.e. to guard against burst pipes etc), in order to minimise any heating costs during the period we're away on holiday?
Is it best to:-
(a) Switch the central heating off completely (as it would have to be incredibly cold for the pipes to burst/spring a leak)?
(b) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 15 degrees and keep the central heating control on the boiler on its current timer (7.30am-8.15am; 6pm-9.30pm), whilst keeping the thermostatic valves at setting 5 (maximum);
(c) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 15 degrees and keep the central heating control on the boiler on its current timer (7.30am-8.15am; 6pm-9.30pm), and turn the thermostatic valves to the "frost free" setting (I assume this is what the snowflake shape on the thermostatic valve is);
(d) Turn the main thermostat to e.g. 10 degrees and have the central heating control on the boiler set to "on" all the time, with the valves turned to frost free;
(e) Turn the main thermostat to "frost free" (I assume this is the star shape in attached pic of main thermostat), have central heating control on boiler set to "on", and have all thermostatic valves set to frost free;
(f)Something else?
We live in Scotland, just outside Edinburgh.