Winter time is here! However, in Delaware, the temperatures for January are seasonably high right now. But with February creeping up on us fast, anyone in the Northeast area knows that the winter weather and temperatures can change drastically at a moment’s notice. I do love the winter season. It brings all the fun activities such as skiing, snow tubing, making snow angels, and snowball fights with friends. Unfortunately, as a homeowner, we must also remember not to neglect our home during the winter too, especially if we have a vacant home.
If you have a second home or a home you inherited that stays vacant during the cold winter months, you want to be sure you take precautions to winterize your vacant home to prevent damage caused by the cold and freezing temperatures. By doing a few simple items to prepare your home for the cold months could save you a lot of money and frustration. I thought I would put together a short checklist of things to consider.
- Make sure your thermostat has been switched to the heat setting and keep it at least 55 degrees. Since you will not be living in the house, the temperature doesn’t need to be comfy & cozy but you want it on to prevent your pipes from freezing.
- It is also a good idea to turn off the water at the main shut off valve in the house to prevent leaking and flooding if a pipe does burst.
- You should also open up all your faucets and drain the toilets of any water. This will decrease your chance of having the water expand under freezing temperatures, which can cause your pipes to freeze and burst.
- Unplug any appliances that are not being used.
- You want to secure and store any items on patios, decks, and balconies that could blow away or become damaged during wind & rain storms. In heavy wind, items can flip and blow toward the house, which could cause damage to siding or windows.
- Make sure your gutters are cleaned and working properly to direct water away from your house.
- Finally, let a close neighbor or friend know that the house will be vacant and a good contact number. You want to have at least one person checking for strangers roaming around or if something happens and your home needs immediate attention.
Remember, these are just a few of the major precautions you can take when winterizing vacant homes and preventing the cold temperatures from affecting your investment. It only takes a short time to accomplish but can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. If you are unsure of how to do any of the items I have talked about, you can always call a professional or search YouTube for DIY videos. I always find them helpful.