The most important thing to do, especially if you're going out for the whole winter, is to shut off the water supply. To prepare your interior pipes for winter, start by turning off the water supply if you don't need it to be turned on while you're gone and drain the faucets. For more susceptible pipes in the attic or on the outer walls, you can pick up insulating materials at the local hardware store and wrap them with fiberglass or polyethylene. It's also a good idea to leave the thermostat at a temperature above freezing so that the house never cools down enough for most pipes to freeze in the first place.
State Farm recommends keeping your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. If you've been using the air conditioner all summer, you'll want to change it to the heating setting. You don't need to keep your home at a comfortable, livable temperature, but you do need to keep it around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the pipes from freezing. Investing in a programmable thermostat can be a practical way to control your home's temperature from afar while you're away.
As summer comes to an end and winter gradually approaches, many snowbirds around the world begin to prepare to head south or to other warmer regions to spend the rest of the colder months of the year. However, before you leave your home or property for the holidays, you should do or attend to a few simple things to prevent disasters or accidents while you're away. These include turning off electrical appliances and disconnecting them, shutting off the water supply and waterline drain, cleaning, etc. All of this will help prevent disasters from occurring while you are away.
If your house is empty, you must find the correct midpoint on the thermostat. If it's too cold, you increase the risk of frostbite. If you keep it too warm, you risk wasting money and energy. As a general rule, leave the heating on and set the thermostat between 55 and 60 degrees.
Knowing how to prepare an empty house, cabin, or vacation home for winter is essential if you're ever planning to go out for an extended period of time. Steps 1 through 5 have focused on preparing drinking water lines for winter in your empty house. This sixth step will focus on preparing your drainage system for winter. Since you can't inject air into your drain system, you must prepare them for winter by adding antifreeze.
And you're going to need a lot. An average home might need 15 to 20 gallons. You can order non-toxic antifreezes online by the box to save some money. Knowing how to prepare an empty house for winter is not the easiest task for a DIY enthusiast.
You should heat your empty house. Winter temperatures can cause problems such as freezing pipes, floods, and other water damage. However, it is not necessary to heat it to a comfortable temperature. Proper insulation and correct thermostat settings will help you keep your bills low when you're not around.
When preparing an empty house for winter, unplug all electrical appliances that aren't critical, such as televisions, toasters, and coffee makers. A little preparation and a visit from MTB Mechanical technicians can help ensure that homes are prepared to withstand the coldest winter storms safely. Now that you know how to prepare your home for winter, you're ready to enjoy the long winter without worrying about the house you left behind for the season. Fortunately, most tasks related to preparing your home for winter can be done by yourself in a relatively short period of time.
Regardless of the weather you are away or whether you plan to blow up the chicken coop for the entire winter period, it's essential to prepare your empty house for winter before you leave. The first thing to do when preparing an empty house for winter is to use the main valve to shut off the water supply. Then, when the winter season is over, you can prepare for the heat by learning how to overwinter your home. Unless a housekeeper comes to water them, you could return to a house full of dead plants.
However, when preparing an empty house for winter, you must turn off the water even before it reaches your house. Preparing your home for winter as you head to your vacation home for the season ensures that there are no headaches to return to in spring. . .
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