Water supply

Rock

Yes I am worried that if I shut off the water supply, the boiler will need to refill the system.

Rock

Water supply

I have a summer house on Long Island. I usually go there on weekends.My heating systen is oil hot water baseboard .I want to shut off the main water supply when In am not there, because I am afraid of a pipe bursting and having a flood. I usually keep the heat @49 deg f. when not there. I want to know If the heating system can operate properly with the water supply off for a week or two at a time?

Weezbo

it is unlikely.

insulation is key to this question that you have.

that then leads to the heat loss of the building, then the next thing that comes into play is the windows and doors infiltration rate.... that then should be verified by a blower door test,..that then tells you just how likely maintaining the fluids in the pipe above freezing just Might be...

to me none of what i just said is inexpensive as it were , nor, easy to wrap ones mind around ,out of the sky blue pink...so,....Maintaining constant circulation would be the ticket. you have had it maintaining 49 in the home , thats pretty good,with some addition of Proper anti freeze ,you can lower the temps even more however, your Domestic water lines then become an issue,...how well are they insulated? what are the locations of the lines? how much of the lines are in under insulated or areas with large amounts of infiltration bearing down on them?...best to have someone stop by and look through these things...

in other woids, it is unlikely dialing the temps down to off, will bring about a satisfactory result.*~/:)

i realise that is not quite what you asked, basically you asked if you could simply turn off the water,...

might just want a professional to stop by to determine if certain "pieces" are on your boiler and potable water system...

Ericjeeper

Make up water to the boiler?

Is this your concern? You are worried about the boiler requiring make up water?
or are you planning on turning off the heat too?

[Deleted User]

If it is a true hot water heating system....

and not a steam system, AND it is in good sound shape (NO leaks in the system, you can shut off the make up water to it without major concern. However, you should also install a low water cut off device, a low pressure cut off device, and a low temp/low pressure alarm to call you at home should something go awry.

Belts and suspenders if you will...

If it is a steam system, the make up water should be left on to make up any fluids lost in the process of venting.

Leaks are NOT normal on a closed loop heating system as some people would have you believe.



ME