Table of Contents
How do you winterize a vacant house?
Home Alone: How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Vacancy Turn off the water supply. The most important thing you need to do, especially if you’re leaving for the entire winter, is shut off your water supply. Drain the waterlines. Insulate pipes. Turn down the heat. Unplug all appliances. Throw out the trash.
What temperature should I keep my vacant house in winter?
Set your thermostat appropriately. As a general rule of thumb, leave the heat on and set your thermostat between 55 and 60 degrees. Digital thermostats are a great fit for vacant homes or vacation rentals that are temporarily used.
How do you winterize pipes in a vacant house?
Winterizing plumbing is recommended when a house will be vacant for a long period of time and no water will be running through the pipes. The winterizing process involves emptying the water heater, draining all water from the pipes, and filling all fixtures with an antifreeze solution.
Should water be turned off in empty house?
Water heaters should be turned off for any absence of more than a few days, and should be turned off and drained for long absences. Draining the water system of a home is best done by a plumber, who can make sure appliances and traps in toilets and sinks are cleared of water or properly treated against freezing.
How can I leave my house for 6 months?
Empty your refrigerator. Turn your water off at the main valve, every house has one. Open your faucets to release the pressure. Turn off the electricity to your hot water heater. Turn off your gas at the meter. Get some smart outlets so you can turn some lights on and off sporadically.
Will shutting off water keep pipes from freezing?
To prevent pipes from freezing, the best thing to do is turn your water off if you can locate your valve. If not, leaving your faucets on with a slight trickle – not a drip – to prevent broken pipes, he says.
Should you leave the heat on in an empty house during the winter?
You should heat your empty house. Winter temperatures can lead to problems like frozen pipes, flooding, and other water damage. You don’t have to heat it to a comfortable temperature, though. Heat isn’t free, but it’s much cheaper to keep your empty house warm than to repair serious damage later.
How do I stop my pipes from popping on an empty house?
Ideally, you should have an alternative heating source as a backup should your primary heating fail. Drain down. Trace heating. Allow warm air to circulate unheated areas. Service your boiler. Prevent condensing boilers freezing and breaking down. Get smart. Don’t forget outside taps. Allow taps to drip.
Does foam pipe insulation prevent freezing?
For many residential plumbing applications a PE pipe insulation product like Tubolit® and Tundra® is the perfect option. Economical and easy to install, PE foam insulation will prevent pipes from freezing and keep hot pipes hot and cold pipes cold.
What type of antifreeze is used to winterize a house?
Finally, pour one or two cups of biodegradable antifreeze into the back and the bowl of every toilet, and into every sink, shower, and tub drain. Be sure to not use automotive antifreeze, and instead choose non-toxic, RV or marine antifreeze.
How long can you leave a house unoccupied?
Most standard home insurance policies allow your home to be empty for up to 60 days per year. If you leave your property unoccupied for longer than this, you may not be covered.
How do snowbirds winterize their homes?
Secure external doors and windows with deadbolt locks, security-type hinges. Install slide locks or other equivalent security locks on sliding glass doors. Store valuables that you are not taking with you in a safe deposit box or other secure offsite location.
Should I turn off water when on vacation in winter?
Shut off your water lines and drain them before winter getaways. During winter, the drop in temperatures can make the water in your pipes freeze. When water freezes, it expands, causing pipes to split or burst. To prevent this, first shut off the main water supply.
Why do empty houses deteriorate?
Plants would start to grow inside the house breaking apart cement floor. When a house is abandoned, it is no longer protected in a way to keep environmental elements out. Even when a house has occupants but no repairs done to the house when needed, the house will fall apart.
How do I prepare my home for a long absence?
Perhaps the most important aspect of this preparation is making sure your home appears occupied. Lock All External Doors, Windows, and the Garage. Don’t Hide House Keys. Ask Neighbors and the Police To Watch. Set Programmable Light Timers. Activate Motion Activated Outdoor Floodlights.
What should I do if I leave my house for 3 months?
How to Close a House for Three Months Shut off any propane or natural gas or propane valves. Unplug all electrical and electronic appliances. Store all outside patio furniture and tools inside the house. Prune trees with overhanging branches that could fall on your house in a high windstorm. Drain the plumbing system.
At what temp should I drip my faucets?
When a cold wave hovers around or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius), it’s time to let at least one faucet drip. Pay close attention to pipes that remain in attics, garages, basements or crawl spaces because temperature levels in these unheated interior areas usually imitate outside temperatures.
