Should I heat the utility room

Over Clocker · 2 Dec 2012 at 13:53

Hi guys,

We've got a utility room off the kitchen. The door going from the kitchen into it is a proper outside door. The utility room was just built many years ago as a lean to, but has a sink in it, plus the washing machine, freezer etc etc

There is no heating in the utility room, and it is essentially nearly as cold as it is outside.

I was considering putting an oil filled radiator in there and leaving it on 24/7 but on a low setting with the thermostat on it quite low, just to keep the temperature in there above freezing.

I'm concerned with the tap and washing machine out there, when it is really really cold the pipes may freeze up overnight.

What are your thoughts? Any cheaper way people can think to heat it?

Cheers

4T5 · 2 Dec 2012 at 13:59

Can you insulate the walls ? What heating have you got in the house ? Can you run pipes out there for a rad ?

cm1179 · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:00

i would.

Over Clocker · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:02

We've got central heating in the rest of the house, and there is a radiator in the kitchen so not far, however our floors are concrete and insulated, and we will most likely be pulling it down and building a proper extension in a few years so don't want to look at the expense and inconvenience of that.

Cheers

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:34

Its cold and always going to be cold as a lean to extnsion type thimgmy, yes an oil filled rad will do the job

Buy one with a thermostat and set it to the star symbol, will only come on if needed due to frost risk.

SpeedFreak · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:35

Just to add that your freezer ironically won't be working properly in the cold conditions and heating the area would improve that.

PhillyDee · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:35

Lag the pipes also. This will help.

HAz · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:41

Get one of the low wattage heat tubes. There like 60w+ and will keep a room like that way above freezing temp

BigBoy · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:42

Fridges and freezers dont like being cold and as said above won't function properly due to the low air temp, your also likely to suffer moisture problems because of constant temperature fluctuations. So yeah I would heat it just to keep the frost off.

Devrij · 2 Dec 2012 at 17:04

If it's a fridge-freezer you'll have problems, but just a freezer will be fine. It's worth keeping the room above freezing to avoid problems with the washing machine and pipes though. If it is a fridge-freezer you'll need it to be slightly warmer than the fridge or the pump won't kick in (your freezer will then warm up to the same temp)

Danthus · 2 Dec 2012 at 17:15

SpeedFreak said:
Just to add that your freezer ironically won't be working properly in the cold conditions and heating the area would improve that.

Some will but you are correct, some fridge freezers will actually thaw in with very cold external conditions.

thedinks · 2 Dec 2012 at 17:16

Devrij said:
If it's a fridge-freezer you'll have problems, but just a freezer will be fine. It's worth keeping the room above freezing to avoid problems with the washing machine and pipes though. If it is a fridge-freezer you'll need it to be slightly warmer than the fridge or the pump won't kick in (your freezer will then warm up to the same temp)

Is this on all fridge freezers? We have one in the garage and last Thursday it stopped working but now I'm thinking it's because it's cold in the garage?

Devrij · 2 Dec 2012 at 17:25

thedinks said:
Is this on all fridge freezers? We have one in the garage and last Thursday it stopped working but now I'm thinking it's because it's cold in the garage?

It's true of most. Some high-end units will have dual thermostats, but most just depend on the pump running to keep the fridge the right temp. If your fridge is fine, but your freezer is thawing out, try heating the room (or move it somewhere warmer).

Destination · 2 Dec 2012 at 18:37

Sometimes there is a switch inside to flick to change the temp settings, a red button for low temp conditions.

Diagro · 2 Dec 2012 at 19:47

if a rad is close, Simply pull a pipe from it, put a mini rad in there and then bobs your uncle it will be warmed up.

Will only be 100 quid or so

Shayper · 2 Dec 2012 at 19:49

Space heater, you can get 2 for 35 quid. I can get the exact model from my mate if you want?

PhillyDee · 2 Dec 2012 at 20:37

Diagro said:
if a rad is close, Simply pull a pipe from it, put a mini rad in there and then bobs your uncle it will be warmed up.

Will only be 100 quid or so

Not even that. About £11 for a 600x300 radiator from screwfix. £6 for 2 valves. Couple of quid for a couple of T pieces and a couple of pipes. I would use PVC pipe now, its really quick fitting and works a treat!

Diagro · 2 Dec 2012 at 20:49

PhillyDee said:
Not even that. About £11 for a 600x300 radiator from screwfix. £6 for 2 valves. Couple of quid for a couple of T pieces and a couple of pipes. I would use PVC pipe now, its really quick fitting and works a treat!

Nice

SourChipmunk · 3 Dec 2012 at 19:36

I have a full bath that doesn't have central heat running to it, and has a doorway leading to the outside. I used to close the inside door to keep from having to heat that room also. Sure enough, one of the pipes on an outside wall without enough insulation behind it burst from the cold, resulting in a 3:00am waterfall running down the stairs to my fully-finished basement. A big thank you to the dogs for waking us up before we floated away, and another thank you to the insurance company for their stupidity-forgiveness.

Now I just leave the door open. Heat gets in there and, once it does, it stays there.