Will pipe in the basement break from no heat in the basement

[Gina Nicolas]

Good morning all

I'm currently rehabbing a house in Pennsylvania for rental and everything could have gone wrong went wrong.

Anyway, I'm having so much issues with the plumbing system from cracked cast iron radiators to leaking pipes that the company that I hired said it will be better for me just to replace the heating system with Mini split ductless system, 5 of them for a total of 25K, my business partner is concerned that it will not be a good idea since the basement which is unused and unfinished will have no heat and pipes in the basement can break from freezing temperature and eventually cause more damages. My question for the community is. Did anyone has used Mini-split ductless heat and air conditioners in their rental and will I have issues if there is no heat in the basement since I will get rid of the boiler but I will still use the water heater.

Thank you all