Does she have a neighbour who could check on her place if she weren't there ?

Can a neighbour pop in and  heat the pipes for a wee while?

I would hope she should be okay though and I wouldn't leave the fire on.

Hope you see her pud.

I'd definitely not leave the gas on if I were her...has she not got a neighbour who could pop in and put the fire on for say an hour of an evening? If she does nothing and has no heating on at all and the worst does happen then her insurance company may well not pay up cos it always used to be a condition of insurance that unoccupied properies had to have some heating on between November -March to ward against burst pipes.

simply do not know what to suggest, other than what people havealready said.. is there any sort of volunteer organisation that might help? do let us know what happens. I wiash you both a lovely christmas and new year, thinking of you.

She is going to speak to a neighbour in the morning to ask him if he can turn her water supply off (assuming it hasn't frozen shut) but she doesn't want to be a pest by asking for him to keep popping in to heat the flat up and she is scared if he did it may cause a frozen pipe to thaw and burst. She is really, really stressed out with the worry (so am I now).

She doesn't have central heating as it's a listed building (can't have a flue sticking out through the wall) so she has an electric storage heater in the hall & a gas fire in the lounge with no heating in the bedroom.
I was mortified when she just told me she doesn't have an electric oil filled radiator as a back-up plan.

If she gets to Blackpool she will be worrying about her flat but at least she will be warm here.
She may be 60 next year but she is still a worry! (Older sisters eh!!!)

Does the storage heater have a timer?

She's be better surely to have that on that to turn the water off....plus if it's a flat then chances are the heat from the other flats will be enough to prevent burst pipes....

Thanks everyone for your advice & support.
I think she will phone the insurers and ask them for advice in the morning.

To be frank! I think she/you will worry no matter what - even those of us that have central heating worry in this climate!
But like you say at yours she will be warm & with family who will take care of her!
If she were to leave her place & ask her neighbour to maybe pop in just to check the place is free from damage & then to put her heating on 24hrs before she is due home ??
I hope you both come to a happy conclusion & a lovely Christmas is had!!!

ps maybe if she were to make sure that the things she values the most are put out of harms way! (just a suggestion) xx

Good point Crock!
I am in a flat with a vacant property down below (no-one above) - my heating went off the other morn due to an ice block - had to flush it out!

"Does the storage heater have a timer?"

Croc, I think she would leave the hall storage heater on and leave the internal doors open but I'm unsure if the heat would get to the lounge (where the water tank lives).
She thinks the family in the flat above her are at home for Christmas but I don't know how much warmth she gets from the flats either side of her. She lives in one of The Colonies in Edinburgh so they are are about 140 years old and stone built.

!I am in a flat with a vacant property down below (no-one above) - my heating went off the other morn due to an ice block - had to flush it out!"
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I think the other flats should insulate her flat but she is so stressed out at the moment I would be wrong whatever I said. It is the predicted minus 14  degree centigrade for tomorrow night that has put the wind up her.

How did you flush your ice block out?????
My bathroom washbasin wouldn't drain this morning and it turned out it was frozen.
My brother poured boiling water down the sink (after taking the u-bend out and putting it back and checking the outside pipes from a step-ladder on the ice - my nerves will never recover!!!!)

I have my heating on non stop - I just ran the hot tap continuously! - I think it was probably by luck it worked for me! 

Blackpudlian, I think it is a good idea to ask her neighbour to turn the water off while she's away, which will help to prevent burst pipes. Leaving the hall storage heater on and the internal doors open will help too. If she can also ask a neighbour to keep an eye on things for her, it will maybe put her mind at rest and let her enjoy Christmas.

If the water is turned off she'll need to drain the system, leave all the taps on till nothing comes out and flush the loo till the water is gone.

True Croc. I hope her neighbour can sort it for her.

Thanks everyone.

slimfern I'm really glad it worked for you - Frosty the Guardian Angel must be with you.
I shall have a word and see if I can find one for my sister! (worth a go, isn't it?)

Yogi, I think you are right - i think she will be ok with the storage heater heat flowing through the open internal doors but she is getting depressed with the cold weather and her health problems.

The sooner my sister retires and comes back home to Blackpool the better - she has lived on her own in Edinburgh (in the same flat) for 30 years so I think she has had enough.
I think her flat may be warmer than it feels to her (her body temperature is below normal at the moment but that could be because of her thyroid) but the room thermometer says it is ok.

tell her to open the doors to allow the heat into where the pipes are like under the sink....

Am blessed I guess - for now 

Whatever your sis decides sweetness - I hope you both have a lovely Christmas! 

(lets face it - home repairs can be fixed - tis family & memories that count!)

Thanks everyone
(hands round mince pies, homemade buns & drinks)

Morning everyone.

My sister has just phoned to tell me she has decided to stay in Edinburgh for Christmas and hopefully she will be able to come to Blackpool soon & we will have a second Christmas Day then.
She didn't get much sleep as she was coughing her head off. (She is a chronic asthmatic & she has a very bad cold at the moment so sounds really  unwell).
She sounded more positive for having made the decision (and she has heard her local Chinese takeaway may be open on Christmas Day!) so I am sure she has made the right decision.  I shed a few tears when I put the phone down & I shall miss her but at least I know she is relatively ok.
I passed on all your advice to her & she was really touched by your kindnesses.
I'm going to pop out now and get some fruit & veg now & then I will be done & dusted for Christmas.
Thanks again to you all - I hope you all have a lovely Christmas & a very happy 2011.
Love,
Shirley xx

Thats a shame, but maybe for the best, she would probably just worry all the time she was with you. i am in Edinburgh and its going to be really cold for a time yet . All the best to her and yourself

Thanks Skylark.
Have a brilliant time & keep warm!
x

Christmas I think she has made the right decision she would only be worried at what might happen and it is best not to travel if she is feeling unwell,my sisters in Scotland say the weather is a nightmare, wish your sister a speedy recovery and a lovely Christmas hopefully she can visit you when the weather gets a bit better, have a lovely Christmas All the Best in 2011

Update - my sister has arrived at last!!!!! This is despite industrial action by some train conductors too. Thank yous & hugs & kisses to everyone who offered help & advice. I've made a huge meat & potato pie (& red cabbage) and will be handing it out in 15 minutes - enjoy!!!!!

*holds out plate*


Wishing you & your sister fun & happiness!

Hope you have a lovely time    No red cabbage for me thanks

Enjoyed ours....I hope you enjoyed yours

So glad it all worked out well in the end  Hope you and your sister have a lovely time together.

My mum should have been going to Kent (with my sister) for Christmas - it didn't happen due to adverse weather conditions! She came and stayed with me for one night on the 19th .............left her heating on timer and still had burst pipes and a flood! We're still sorting out. No matter what precautions you take - it can still happen!