How to Winterize a Vacant Cabin. When you’re leaving your house during winter for an extended period, closing up a summer vacation home it is important to winterize your property to prevent it from deteriorating while you are away; take precautions to avoid using unnecessary utilities, keep out animals and insects, and keep your possessions safe from theft. First make a checklist by looking carefully around the exterior and interior of your home and decide what needs to be done. This will come in handy when it’s time to open up your house again. Second be sure to turn off your water supply is turned off completely at the main supply point. Thirdly open all faucets and drain all water lines. If you live in an area where freezing pipes can be a problem, drain the toilets, the water heater and the expansion tank. I will explain how to drain the water heater later in my segment. Meanwhile I will advise you can use an air compressor to blow the lines of excess water. If a house is to be vacant for a long time, you may prevent water in a toilet’s trap from evaporating and thereby permitting sewer gases to enter the home by raising the toilet’s lid and seat and covering the bowl with saran wrap. When it comes to dishwashers, refrigerators, water dispensers and ice makers, washing machines I advise you follow the manufactures directions. Fourth be sure to turn down the thermostat to a set that is an adequate temperature to keep things dry. Fifth is to unplug all of your appliances to prevent the risk of fire from a faulty switch or a rodent gnawing the wires. I have read the some experts suggest shutting off hot water heaters completely if you will be gone for long absences. This will require you to re heat your water heater tanks supply when you return. Sixth I suggest you wash the refrigerator and freezer thoroughly to forestall mold and mildew. Seventh is to make sure and guard against insects and rodents by cleaning kitchen trash containers and putting away food where vermin cannot find a way to it. Eighth is to take out all of the trash before you leave. Ninth you need to wash all of your linens, bedding, and towels and like that remain in the home. Vacuum your carpets, floors, and rugs. Tenth you will need to remove all of your fire hazards such as stacked papers, flammable items, oily rags and such before you leave. Eleventh is to store all of your outdoor furniture by placing tables, chairs, hammocks, delicate garden ornamentation, and other outdoor accessories in a garage, shed or storage unit. Leave nothing outdoors that can be blown about by a strong wind. Then block window views into this storage space. The twelfth step is to lock your house at all entry points. You will need to check that all of your windows are shut and locked as well. Then close the window shutters, aside from enhancing security, shutters will, along with drapes, blinds and curtains, keep carpeting and fabrics from fading. This brings me to the thirteenth step which is stopping your mail. This can be done online at USPS.gov. Then be sure to stop any other routine deliveries. If you have a neighbor who will remain in the area while you are gone, leave them with your cell phone number, home phone number, and e-mail address. The make sure that your insurance coverage is adequate for being absent. If you own a vacation home in a remote area, consider leaving food and a supply of dry wood to help those people survive in the event of an unexpected, heavy snowstorm that has hikers stranded. Lastly close the flues and dampers and arrange for indoor plants to be watered if necessary, the yard to be mowed and shrubbery trimmed, and the covering of any plants that are frost intolerant or watered if necessary.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 17:01:17 +0000
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