We have a house which is shortly going to be unoccupied for about 8 years while I do it up.  The heating system however is new. We were originally going to put it on froststat setting for 8 years but can't really afford gas to heat an unoccupied house.  We can however light the odd wood fire (our wood comes free!!) to keep the place from becoming damp.

So

Do I drain down the system completely which presumably will mean raising floorboards to get at the lowest radiator pipes (unless I can blow it through with compressed air) and if so,  will being left dry harm rubber components in the nearly new boiler ?

OR

Can I fill the system with car antifreeze and then switch it off and forget it - or will this too harm rubber components - though presumably keeping the rads rust free?  If necessary I could isolate the boiler to do this as the boiler will eventually be in an extension I am building anyway.

What is best?  Any other ideas?

Thanks

John D

I think I am more bothered about saving the rest of the system than the boiler.  

As to preserving the rads, would the antifreeze method I suggested work? After all it prevents corrosion in metal engines if used in a high enough concentration?  

John D

8 years?

must be some size of project

built the Burj Kalifa quicker

ask your local council
some have arrangements where they do up the property [with a subsidy]it gets used to house a local family for a set time and you get a share off the rent

dont forget you still have to insure the building this is difficult and expensive if no one is living there

plus the standing charges for gas and electric along with council tax that some councils will charge more than basic council tax for long term empty properties

l hope you have fun with your project lol

I have looke up at and down from Burj Kalifa lol