Shutting off water

[rshore]

We recently moved in to a house with a 3 yr old Lennox Complete Heat System used as a boiler for the 4 zone baseboard hot water heat. In the past with our older forced air systems when we went away for extended periods of time (2 months at most), I always turned off the water.

I notice this hot water system has a pipe connecting it to the housenold water supply with a shut off and a pressure regulator valve. Is there any danger in shutting down the house water system and leaving the heat setting at 55 degrees when I go away or should I keep the well/pump sytem turned on to supply water to the boiler?

I am understandably nervous about leaving the household water turned on when I am away for so long.

[arkayassoc]

I notice this hot water system has a pipe connecting it to the housenold water supply with a shut off and a pressure regulator valve. Is there any danger in shutting down the house water system and leaving the heat setting at 55 degrees when I go away or should I keep the well/pump sytem turned on to supply water to the boiler?

I am understandably nervous about leaving the household water turned on when I am away for so long.

It would be nice to know where you live, and the potential for power failures, extreme cold weather, etc.

However, I have a friend that left his home in NYC, turned down his heat, and had a power failure. His water pipes and his boiler froze, which did not really cause a problem until it got above freezing........then the flood started.

In general, on a closed boiler system, you do not need to add "make-up water", unless you have recently drained the system for maintenance or you have a leak somewhere. Have you tried valving off the auto-fill valve to see if your system pressure drops?

They make anti-freeze for hot water boiler heat systems, and this can prevent a catastrophe. However, if you do not drain and blow out your domestic water (like the vacation homes on Nantucket), any power failure will cause major plumbing problems, if the temperature gets cold enough.

I am sure I gave you some more things to think about, but not sure I helped make you more comfortable with leaving for a couple of months in the winter.

Good luck,

[rshore]

Rick, I thinkmy question has been answered. Am I to understand there is little danger to the heating system in shutting down the well/pump for two months? As to the other issues - Yes, I live in NY State and freezing is a concern. I do have a home alarm sytem that will alert a plumbing firm when the house temp drops below 45 degrees.

My main concern is therfore, not frozen pipes, but a leak developing somewhere -like in the water softener system--and the well/pump slowly filling my basement with water. If I can shut the pump off, then I will feel better leaving the systems unattended while I am gone.

[rshore]

Rick, I think my question has been answered if I am I to understand there is little danger to the hot water heating system in shutting down the well/pump for two months? You had suggested I shut it down while here and check the pressure. Unfortuantely, there is no pressure gauge on the system. It is an enclosed system and has functioned very well in our sub-zero temps. It was checked when I moved in 3 yrs. ago and the inspector said everything looked fine.

As to the other issues - Yes, I live in NY State and freezing is a concern. I do have a home alarm sytem that will alert a plumbing firm when the house temp drops below 45 degrees. My main concern is therfore, not frozen pipes, but a leak developing somewhere -like in the water softener/chlorine injector systems -- and the well/pump slowly filling my basement with water.

If I can shut the pump off, (and I do have sufficient lower level faucets to at least partially drain the system) then I will feel better leaving the systems unattended while I am gone.

[Ed Imeduc]

If you do let the water on there for sure turn the water off hot and cold at the washer. Have had hose pop when gone.


ED :wall:

[arkayassoc]

Look on the boiler itself, there should be a pressure and temperature gauge. I have merged your threads, to keep all of your posts together. If you need to post back, please use the reply button below.

Ed made a good suggestion about shutting off the water valves to your washer. I've seen this happen more than once.