Should I Turn Off Electric And Water

[foxyferret]

My mum has just died and I have been clearing stuff out. She lived over 100 miles away from me, but I have stayed at her cottage for the last 3 months nursing her. I am returning home next week but will be returning as still stuff to sort before property is sold. There is an oil tank in the garden for the central heating, oil boiler in the airing cupboard. Should I turn electric and water off at the mains when I leave or just leave it on very low or just ticking over.? No idea how oil works, looks like there is an electric pump in the cupboard next to the airing cupboard. There is a quarter of a tank of oil left at the moment but I can buy more if necessary. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[bookbinder]

Leave the water and electricity on, but turn both down a bit. Only when the property is about to be sold should you think about turning both supplies off. That's when the bill-paying is transferred to the new owner. You have my sympathy about your mum dying. I have no doubt that this is a sad time for you.

[bhg481]

I would turn off the water, as a leak from any cause causes mayhem. Depending on which part of the country the house is in I would lean towards turning off the heating as well; unless you're in the far north I wouldn't expect any frost to be hard enough to freeze water inside the house.

[Atheist]

bhg; I agree with you about the water being turned off. Our French house suffered from a frozen pipe - in the bathroom on the first floor, with wall insulation. An unoccupied house will get very cold inside in prolonged cold weather.

[bhg481]

I would think that by this time of year we are most unlikely to get a prolonged cold spell, hence my advice to turn off the heating depending on the location of the property.

[MissTerious2]

I would definitely turn off the water.

[William51]

I would turn it all off before you leave and turn it back on when you return, because it is safe in case it goes wrong when you are away and also saves some fuel.

[Maydup]

I would turn the water off at the mains too and switch off all appliances at the wall. switch off the heating too if you can work out how. Don’t close the curtains though, it would indicate an empty house. Maybe leave a light on in the hall?

Best to be safe at these sad times.

[sddsddean]

We have had this same situation as my Mum passed away in September. Phone all the utilities (though I'm sure you have). We have disconnected the phone; water board have made a note and said they are not worried about a bit of usage, so no problem there. Electric is still on, but we have switched off everything we can (eg oven clock, microwave etc). We have left the heating on one hour in the morning, one hour in the evening and set the thermostat at 16C...though hopefully with the weather warming up, it won't come on much. Phone the local council about council tax...this should now be zero as no one is living in the house. Phone the house insurance...they should reduce the premium as no one is living in the house, but normally for the insurance, someone has to 'check' the house at least once a week...next door neighbour?

[foxyferret]

Sorry for your loss sddsddean. Yes, done all utilities, phone disconnected, council tax, tell us once etc. I thought the house insurance may go up as they said I had to let them know if the house was unoccupied for more than 30 days, I will have to wait and see. Water board very understanding. If it were gas central heating, I would do the same as you and leave it on very low. Not being used to oil, I’m not certain how far the oil will go or for how long. It may run out before I can get back and damage the boiler. I think I will end up turning everything off. Thank you.

[lankeela]

Sorry for your loss. If a neighbour is available they could do the 'insurance' check and keep an eye on anything if you decide to leave it on. Don't forget to readdress post, also tv licence.

[vulcan42]

Not sure if all insurance companies are the same but when My Mother in law died my brother in law contacted them. We were told that as the house no longer had anyone living there they wouldn't continue to insure it.