Kettles clicked on like a chorus line, breath hung in hallways, and a thin rattle sprang from the pipes behind the sink. You glance at the thermostat, wonder if last night’s savings were worth today’s risk, and tug a jumper tighter as the boiler stirs. Somewhere in the walls, cold creeps faster than coffee warms your hands. You think of the neighbour who had to replace a ceiling after a burst, and the friend who leaves the heating roaring all night just to feel safe. There’s got to be a middle ground. A number you can live with. One simple setting that won’t torch your bill or your plumbing. Thirteen degrees.
The hidden line between safe and spendy
Frozen pipes don’t start in your cosy living room, they start in the coldest corners you forget. The cupboard under the sink, the loft run that kisses the eaves, the crawlspace over a vent. That’s why a modest, steady baseline is your quiet hero. Set your thermostat to 13°C (55°F) during freezes, day and night. It’s low enough to keep costs sensible, high enough to keep hidden spaces above the danger zone.
Last winter in Leeds, a couple dialled their stat down to 10°C during a cold snap to “save a bit.” By morning the kitchen tap coughed ice and the downstairs loo wouldn’t refill. They nudged it to 13°C for the rest of the week and had no more drama, while their bill rose by less than a takeaway’s worth compared with running the place hot. Insurers talk about burst-pipe claims spiking after sudden thaws. The cheapest claim is the one you never make.
Water freezes at 0°C, but the air around your pipes doesn’t need to hit zero for trouble to begin. Draughts strip heat faster, cupboards trap the cold, and uninsulated runs behave like tiny radiators to the outside world. Pipes don’t care what the living room feels like; they care what the cupboard and crawlspace feel like. A 13°C room keeps adjacent voids several degrees warmer than the air outdoors, often just enough to keep water moving, not freezing. It’s a buffer, not a sauna—and buffers pay off.
Set it once, let it ride
Here’s the move. Pick 13°C and treat it as your winter “frost shield” whenever the forecast threatens a hard freeze. Program it as the lowest setback on your smart stat, or twist the dial before bed and when you leave for the day. Open the kitchen sink cupboard overnight so warmth can leak in, especially if the sink sits on an outside wall. If it’s brutal out, let a very thin trickle run from the furthest cold tap to keep water shifting.
Common pitfalls undo good intentions. Turning the heating off “just for the night” invites a deep chill that takes ages—and energy—to undo. Big setbacks like 7–8 degrees sound thrifty yet push the cold into vulnerable corners. Closing radiators in unused rooms makes those rooms even colder, a risk if pipes run there. We get the urge to penny-pinch when bills bite. We’ve all had that moment when the meter feels louder than the wind outside.
“Aim for 13°C as your floor,” says every sensible winter checklist, “then layer smarter moves on top—insulation, draught-proofing, and common sense.”
- Open sink and vanity doors on exterior walls overnight.
- Pull furniture 5–10 cm away from radiators to let heat breathe.
- Lag exposed pipes in lofts, garages, and under floors.
- Know your stopcock location before you need it.
- Use a smart stat “away” mode set to 13°C, not “off.”
You feel it in your shoulders before you feel it in the air. Let’s be honest: nobody actually does that every day.
A cheap insurance policy against winter drama
Think of 13°C as a quiet promise to your future self. It doesn’t feel luxurious, nor should it, but it keeps the bones of the house warm enough to prevent chaos. You still wear a thick jumper. You still sleep under a heavier duvet. Yet downstairs, beyond the painted plaster, water keeps moving and joints stay intact. That peace of mind costs less than keeping the radiators toasty.
There are exceptions, and they’re sensible ones. If your home is very draughty, or if pipes run through a garage or a north-facing void, bump the floor to 14–15°C on the coldest nights. If you’re away for a week, pair 13°C with shutting off the water at the stopcock and draining the system if your plumber recommends it. Smart monitors can ping your phone if the indoor temperature dips too far. That’s tech finally earning its keep.
Share the number with your street WhatsApp, write it on a sticky note near the stat, tell your forgetful teenager. It’s simple enough to remember at 11pm when frost nips. It’s practical advice, not an internet myth. It’s the cheapest insurance you didn’t know you had. And when the thaw comes and the ceilings stay dry, you’ll know exactly why.
| Key points | Detail | Reader Interest |
|---|---|---|
| The magic number | Set thermostat to 13°C (55°F) during freezes, day and night | One simple rule you can act on tonight |
| Why it works | Keeps hidden voids a few vital degrees above freezing | Protects cupboards, loft runs, and cold corners |
| When to adjust | Old, draughty homes or garage runs may need 14–15°C | Personalise without wasting money |
FAQ :
- What’s the best thermostat setting to prevent frozen pipes?Go with 13°C (55°F) as a steady floor during freezing weather. It’s a widely recommended sweet spot that balances safety with sensible costs.
- Isn’t leaving the heating on at 13°C wasteful?Not compared with thawing and repairing a burst. A low, constant baseline reduces heat-up spikes and keeps cold spots above danger, which often uses less energy than big on–off swings.
- What should I do when I’m away on holiday?Keep the thermostat at 13°C, shut the stopcock, and open sink cabinets on outside walls. If your plumber suggests draining, that’s belt-and-braces for longer trips or very exposed homes.
- Does home type change the number?Yes. New builds with good insulation can sit happily at 13°C. Older or draughty places, or homes with pipes in garages/lofts, may need 14–15°C during hard freezes.
- What if a pipe is already frozen?Turn off the stopcock, open the tap to relieve pressure, and warm the pipe gently with a hairdryer from the tap end back. Don’t use open flames. If it’s hidden or you spot leaks, call a plumber fast.
