how do you winterize a vacant property

What steps need to be taken to winterize a home?

What steps need to be taken to winterize a home?

• Clear the Leaves Away from the Gutters. ...
• Maintain Insulation Requirements of the House. ...
• Remove Fallen and Dead Branches. ...
• Keep the Home Warm and Regularly Inspect the Pipes. ...
• The Maintenance of Heating Systems and Handrails. ...
• The Regular Inspection of the House and Plumbing Systems. ...

What is the best way to winterize a house?

Small budget/effort ways to winterize a mobile home:

• Relax tie downs. As the ground freezes in winter, it does contract somewhat. ...
• Chimneys and Fireplaces. If you are lucky enough to have a chimney or fireplace in your home, you can purchase and install a rubber-sealed damper or a glass door/cover that ...
• Ceiling Fans. ...
• Clean the home gutters. ...
• Clear water from hose and sprinkler. ...

How much does it cost to winterize a house?

• Sprinkler heads: $2 to $20 per head
• Valves: $5 to $25 per valve
• PVC pipe: $0.50 to $2.00 per foot
• Connecting pieces: $0.50 to $5.00 per item

How to properly winterize your home?

How to Cozy Up: Winter Essentials for Your Home

• Heavy knit blankets. Or chunky knit blankets. ...
• Candles. Specifically, big candles. ...
• Mini evergreen tree. As in a mini spruce tree (that can be also decorated as a mini Christmas tree). ...
• String lights. ...
• Comfy home wear. ...

What is Winterization?

How to turn off water supply in the city?

Why do you put sticky notes on water fixtures?

When can you replace aerators in a house?

Do you need to shut off water in a vacant house?

Can water pipes freeze in cold weather?

Can you buy antifreeze in packs?

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What temperature should you leave an unoccupied house in winter?

between 55 and 60 degreesIf your home is vacant, you need to find the right middle ground on the thermostat. If it's too cold, you increase the freeze risk. If you keep it too warm, you risk wasting money and energy. As a general rule of thumb, leave the heat on and set your thermostat between 55 and 60 degrees.

How do I winterize my property?

10 tips to winterize your homeCheck the gutters. ... Protect the pipes. ... Seal the cracks. ... Stop the slips, trips and falls. ... Install an emergency release. ... Keep it cozy. ... Have your heating system checked. ... Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.More items...

What does winterizing a property mean?

What Does "Winterizing" Mean? By winterizing, the servicer makes sure that a vacant, abandoned home's plumbing can endure a winter freeze. Typically, this means: draining the water from the pipes and the hot-water heater. putting "do not use" notices on the sinks, toilets, and other conspicuous areas of the home, and.

How do you winterize a second home?

How to winterize your vacation home: A step-by-step checklist.Have the heating system inspected and serviced.Have the chimney inspected and cleaned, if necessary.Seal any gaps in the attic.Wash any linens, bedding, and towels. ... Remove food from the home.Clean all closets and cabinets.More items...•

How do you keep pipes from freezing in a vacant house?

Tips to help prevent pipes from freezingInsulate pipes. Pipe insulation in your home's crawl spaces and attic helps even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. ... Use heat tape or heat cables. ... Seal leaks. ... Secure outdoor hoses, valves and faucets. ... Let water drip. ... Adjust the thermostat. ... Open cabinet doors.

How do you winterize pipes in a vacant house?

But to truly winterize a vacant house, you'll need to follow these 7 instructions.Disconnect Main Water Supply. ... Drain Every Fixture & Appliance. ... Remove All Aerators. ... Blow Air into Your Water Lines. ... Flush Your Toilets. ... Pour Antifreeze into Drains. ... Use Warning Labels.

How much does it cost to winterize a house?

It costs $200 to $250 on average to winterize a home, but appliance repairs or replacements could increase your budget significantly. For savvy DIY homeowners, your entire winterization budget could be less than $65. Learn how to protect your home from inclement weather on your budget in this cost guide.

How long does it take to de winterize a house?

The answer is that de-winterizing a home takes time if everything goes ok (30-45 minutes), and a lot of time if things don't (an hour or more). The cost of the service has to take into account both scenarios. De-winterization is a lot more than turning on the main water valve!

How do you complete winterization?

The winterization process must include a thorough and complete draining of all plumbing and heating systems. Use of air pressure to clear the system or, in some cases, adding antifreeze to the systems are both acceptable provided that the effect prevents freeze-ups.

How do I prepare my house for a long absence?

10 steps you need to prepare your home for an extended vacationSecure your home so it appears occupied. ... Clean out your fridge. ... Prepare your home for the elements. ... Take care of your mail and deliveries. ... Clean your home. ... Protect your vehicle. ... Turn off the water in your house. ... Unplug most appliances.More items...•

How do you keep an empty house?

10 Tips for Protecting a Vacant Home After You MoveLock and secure all windows and doors. ... Give a neighbor or friend an extra key. ... Take care of your yard. ... Install motion detector lights. ... Remove valuables from the home. ... Keep home security system sign out front. ... Keep your alarm system up and running.More items...•

Can you leave a house unheated in the winter?

Almost any room in the house can be closed off for the winter or at least have the temperature substantially reduced. But not every room can go entirely unheated because the flooring may crack, any plaster cracks will widen, and ice may form inside on the windows and ruin their finish.

How much does it cost to winterize a house?

It costs $200 to $250 on average to winterize a home, but appliance repairs or replacements could increase your budget significantly. For savvy DIY homeowners, your entire winterization budget could be less than $65. Learn how to protect your home from inclement weather on your budget in this cost guide.

Can you leave a house unheated in the winter?

Almost any room in the house can be closed off for the winter or at least have the temperature substantially reduced. But not every room can go entirely unheated because the flooring may crack, any plaster cracks will widen, and ice may form inside on the windows and ruin their finish.

5 Must-Dos Before Leaving the House for 3 Months or 3 Days

3. Turn Off Your Water. You went on vacation to hit the pool, not to come home to one. Shut off your water at the main supply before you head out the door to avoid the unwelcome surprise of a burst pipe or an overflowing toilet.

How to Winterize Your Home Checklist

In the winter, the Department of Energy suggests keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. Lower the thermostat a few degrees while you're away or sleeping.

Shutting down a house for winter - Fine Homebuilding

Q: We own a mid-1800s lake front cottage in upstate New York. The house is not occupied in the winter, and keeping the electric heat set at 50°F to prevent things from freezing ran up more than $1,000 in electric bills last season.

What is Winterization?

Winterization is the process of disconnecting and removing water from a building’s plumbing system to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. It is not the same as insulation, which is the act of wrapping the plumbing to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

How to turn off water supply in the city?

This is done by asking your city to come out and shut off your water supply at the street. They will turn off the water for you with a special tool called a meter key (and possibly a meter wrench). Some municipalities allow you to do this yourself but check with them first.

Why do you put sticky notes on water fixtures?

To avoid them, leave a sticky note on all your fixtures to caution well-intentioned helpers from accidentally turning on the water supply to any of them. This single act can save your property from a water damage catastrophe.

When can you replace aerators in a house?

The aerators can be replaced when the house is no longer vacant.

Do you need to shut off water in a vacant house?

As you might know, your home has a water shutoff valve located inside that keeps water from flowing to the rest of your house. However, when winterizing a vacant house, you need to shut the water off before it even reaches your home.

Can water pipes freeze in cold weather?

There are many precautions you can take so your water pipes don’t free ze in bitter-cold temperatures. But to truly winterize a vacant house, you’ll need to follow these 7 instructions.

Can you buy antifreeze in packs?

Winterizing a vacant house tanks a lot of antifreeze. You can buy non-toxic antifreeze in packs of 6 to save money.

Why is it important to winterize your home?

When you're leaving your house during winter for an extended period, closing up a summer vacation home,or cleaning a foreclosure, it's important to winterize your property to prevent it from deteriorating while you're away.

How to keep your house from freezing?

Turn down the thermostat. Set your thermostat to a level adequate to keep the inside temperature above freezing and to keep things dry. If the home is located in a warm, damp climate, you should have a humidity indicator installed and set to maintain a reasonably dry interior. ...

How to get rid of water in drain traps?

Get an air compressor to blow the lines of excess water. Eliminate or dilute the water in drain traps by pouring an "RV" type antifreeze solution into them, as directed by the instructions.

How to stop a furnace from freezing?

If the furnace should fail on a very cold day, water in a pipe could freeze and burst the pipe.

What to do if you leave the power on?

If you leave the electric power on, unplug electric appliances, including microwave ovens and TVs, to avoid the risk of fire in the event of a faulty switch or a rodent gnawing the wires. ...

What should be locked in a garage?

Lock away expensive vehicles. Pleasure craft such as boats, ATVs, bicycles, canoes, kayaks and cars should be locked in a garage or storage shed. Block window views into this storage space.

What to do if you have vermin in your house?

Vacuum carpets and floors. This will ensure that no crumbs or other sources of food remain for vermin.

What to do if your house is winterized?

Once your home is winterized, place signs throughout the house to warn visitors and buyers that the plumbing has been shut off.

How much does it cost to winterize a house?

The plumber will also properly drain water heaters, spas, sprinkler systems, and any appliances that use water. A good winterization on a regular 2-bathroom house will probably cost $400 to $800, but this is thousands less than what you would pay for repairs and hassle.

How much of a house's value will be lost in the winter?

Over the years we have seen homes lose as much as 50% of their market value from fall to spring when pipes freeze, break, and then leak, ruining the floors, walls, and even flooding basements. It can destroy a house and cost thousands of dollars to fix.

What to do when property is vacant?

Notify the police department that the property will be vacant, and provide emergency notification numbers.

How to prevent snow from coming in after a storm?

Arrange for someone to remove snow after storms. Put motion-sensitive exterior lights and interior lights on timers and set them to come on at varying times to discourage prowlers. 2. Take Steps to Protect Your Home from Thieves. Confirm that your alarm systems are in working order and have been activated.

How to prevent water damage?

Protect Your Pipes to Avoid Water Damage by Turning Off Your Water Supply. If a pipe bursts or leaks while you are away, it could cause significant damage. Consider completely turning off the water supply if you will be away for an extended period of time. If your home is heated by an older steam heating system, ...

How to keep your home warm in cold weather?

Have your heating system inspected and serviced by a licensed professional before the onset of cold weather. Have your fuel tanks filled before you leave and make sure you have set up periodic fuel deliveries, if needed. Have someone check on heat and fuel levels regularly while you are gone.

What to do when you're away from snowbirds?

Snowbirds: Winterize Your Home For When You're Away. If you are a snowbird heading south for the winter, there are several key things you can do to help protect your vacant home. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, heating or electrical system malfunctions and other possible threats while you are away ...

What to do when electrical service is on while away?

If electrical service to the home is to remain on while you are away, consider having a licensed electrical contractor inspect your main electrical panel, wiring and outlets. Repair or replace anything that may be defective. Have your roof inspected and clean your gutters to help prevent ice from building up.*.

What to check for in a house?

Check weather-stripping, insulation and exterior doors and windows to ensure no major deficiencies are present . Water and insects can enter through these openings.

What to do if your furnace is vacant?

If the house is vacant: Checking for drafts and leakage will help cut down on the work your furnace has to do by keeping cold air out.

What temperature should a vacant house be?

If the house is vacant: It's important to keep a vacant house at a temperature well above freezing; the standard is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to insulate around windows and doors?

As the weather cools, walk around the house and check for drafts or air leakage, particularly around windows and doors. Use caulk to seal cracks and weatherstripping to help insulate around door and window frames.

What to do if plumbing runs through crawl space?

If your plumbing runs through a crawl space, consider insulating the pipes or the crawl space itself . "It can be a do-it-yourself project, or it can be a hire-a-handyman project," Cope says.

How to keep rodents away from my house?

Move any upholstered furniture from your patio or garage into the house to keep them from becoming rodent nests. Firewood should be kept elevated and away from the exterior walls of your home.

How cold should my house be in the summer?

The cost of your heating and cooling bills often plays a part in the temperature you stick with during summer and winter – in summer, you may be willing to keep your house at 72 degrees or higher, while in winter you may lower the target temperature to 68 degrees. However, make sure the interior of your home doesn't get too cold as exterior temperatures drop – at the very minimum, the heat should kick on before it dips to 50 degrees Fahrenheit inside.

When is the best time to bring indoor plants inside?

If you have outdoor potted plants, fall is a good time to bring them inside if you want to keep them alive during the colder months. If the house is vacant: Any houseplants you want to keep alive should come with you, unless you’re planning to have someone visit the house often enough to water them.

Why is it important to winterize a home?

Doing so prevents pipes from bursting or other serious damage to your property. You can winterize your place yourself and prevent major problems from happening. You can complete most of the winterizing yourself, however assistance may be needed for large heating systems. Once you have properly winterized your home without heat, you will have peace of mind knowing it is safe from winter damage.

When is it safe to winterize a house without heat?

It is especially useful to winterize your home without heat when you take vacations longer than a few days. When the home is vacant and without heat, it is vulnerable to frozen or cracked plumbing pipes or other potential damages.

How to keep refrigerator from freezing?

Turn off other appliances in the property such as dishwashers, laundry washer or the ice maker in the refrigerator. Unplug these devices and drain them accordingly to prevent them from freezing.

What to do when water softener freezes?

Drain water-softener tanks, water filters and water treatment systems. This will prevent the tanks from freezing.

How to turn off water supply valve?

Find the water supply valve to the home and turn it off by turning the supply valve to the "off" position. If there is a well for the house, turn off the breaker to the pump system of the well.

What is Winterization?

Winterization is the process of disconnecting and removing water from a building’s plumbing system to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. It is not the same as insulation, which is the act of wrapping the plumbing to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

How to turn off water supply in the city?

This is done by asking your city to come out and shut off your water supply at the street. They will turn off the water for you with a special tool called a meter key (and possibly a meter wrench). Some municipalities allow you to do this yourself but check with them first.

Why do you put sticky notes on water fixtures?

To avoid them, leave a sticky note on all your fixtures to caution well-intentioned helpers from accidentally turning on the water supply to any of them. This single act can save your property from a water damage catastrophe.

When can you replace aerators in a house?

The aerators can be replaced when the house is no longer vacant.

Do you need to shut off water in a vacant house?

As you might know, your home has a water shutoff valve located inside that keeps water from flowing to the rest of your house. However, when winterizing a vacant house, you need to shut the water off before it even reaches your home.

Can water pipes freeze in cold weather?

There are many precautions you can take so your water pipes don’t free ze in bitter-cold temperatures. But to truly winterize a vacant house, you’ll need to follow these 7 instructions.

Can you buy antifreeze in packs?

Winterizing a vacant house tanks a lot of antifreeze. You can buy non-toxic antifreeze in packs of 6 to save money.