Escaping the Cold: Winterize Your Home Before Your Vacation

It's essential to winterize your home if you plan to leave it vacant this winter. It can save you in repair costs and prevent you from having any headaches about it. So what's the first step in preparing your house for the winter? Start with the tips below.

Shut Off the Water Supply

Shutting the water supply prevents pipes from leaking or bursting. You'll never know when a snowstorm will come and cause a power outage. This can cause heat and temperature control to shut off, freezing pipes as the water expands due to changing temperatures. By the time you return in winter, you'll have a flooded and water-damaged home.

Shut off the water supply from the main valve and run all the faucets inside and outside your home. All the water left in the pipes must be drained out. And if you have sprinklers, you should drain them out, too.

Shut Off the Gas Line, Too

Whether you use propane or natural gas, shut down your gas line before you go. This eliminates or reduces the risk of dangerous ignition or gas-induced fires caused by an accidental release. But make sure that you call your gas company to shut off your gas.

Empty the Water Heater Tank

Drain your water heater tank and turn it off. If you have a smart water heater, turn on vacation mode.

Emptying water from your water heater tank prevents it from getting damaged. If you leave water in the tank, it can freeze and cause the heater to break. This can happen if your heating system fails while you're away.

For added protection, use an insulation jacket on your water heater. It seals in heat, preventing pipes from freezing.

Set the Thermostat

Turning off the heat in your house while you're on vacation is not a wise decision. Aside from causing pipes to burst, it can cause temperature fluctuations inside your home, expanding and shrinking wood in the process. Set the thermostat to about 55 or 60 degrees to keep the interior of your home at near room temperature. This will be enough to keep everything warm and prevent pipes from freezing.

To ensure the heating system doesn't fail, conduct an HVAC system inspection. Hire a professional if you're unsure what to do.

Air Seal Your Home

According to the Department of Energy, air sealing your home reduces air leakage and heat loss. This will help you save on energy costs.

To air seal your home, install storm windows, replace old weather strips on windows and doors, and seal basement air leaks. You can also use draperies on your window to block drafts from coming in. Insulating your attic can also prevent heat loss.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Build-up

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur at home. Prevent it from happening by installing a carbon monoxide detector around the house before you leave. When you and your family return, you'll be alerted if there's high carbon monoxide in the air inside your home.

Carbon monoxide can build up when vents and chimneys are left covered for weeks or months. If your detector beeps, don't let your family enter your home yet. Open all windows to increase ventilation and let the poisonous air out.

Unplug Appliances

Don't leave appliances plugged in when you'll be gone for long. This applies even when it's not winter. There are two reasons why.

First, plugged appliances increase the risk of fire. By unplugging them, you reduce this risk. Appliances may short out, or faulty electrical outlets may spark and ignite a flammable object. Make sure to unplug all appliances, including power strips.

And speaking of power strips, they can cause phantom energy loss if you leave them on stand-by mode. The same happens with appliances. Unplugging all of them can help you save on energy costs.

Store Food Properly

Don't leave any food lying around. Like humans, animals need to stay warm during the winter months. They could be attracted to the warmth of your home and the food that you'll leave on the kitchen counter or dining table, especially when there's no one at home to keep them away.

Keep food in tightly sealed containers. If you have food that will expire soon, throw them away. However, trash cans should be kept away from your home. They may attract creatures if you throw spoiled food in them.

Keep Your House Secure

And the last one, make sure that your house is secured. Pew Research reported that before the pandemic, there were more than 2,000 property crimes per 100,000 people in the US. The number is higher compared to violent crimes committed for the same period.

Before you leave for your vacation, remove any evident signs that there's no one in the house. If possible, let your close neighbors know that you're going. If you're receiving regular mail and packages, don't let them pile up. Program indoor and outdoor lighting. Finally, consider asking or hiring someone to look after your house while you're gone.

You cannot make your vacation worthwhile without peace of mind, so it does not hurt to be well-prepared for winter. With this checklist, you can shift into vacation mode without worrying about home mishaps and theft.