Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 5: Utilities, Plumbing
• Method 2 of 5: Preparing the Kitchen
• Method 3 of 5: Preparing the Rest of the House
• Method 4 of 5: Working in the yard
• Method 5 of 5: Safety Precautions
• Tips
• Warnings

When you leave your home for extended periods of time during the winter (at the end of your summer vacation or if you are in foreclosure on your mortgage), it’s important to properly prepare it for the winter to prevent it from deteriorating while you’re away. Take steps to avoid unnecessary utilities, animals and insects entering your home, and property from theft. If you are going away for a few weeks to a year, the following guidelines will help you plan and complete your home preservation.

Steps

1. 1 Make a list. Take a close look at your home inside and out and decide what needs to be done. Write it all down to create an "action plan." This will come in handy when it comes time to open the house again, without a list, you won't be able to remember everything that needs to be done. Divide your list into the following categories:

Method 1 of 5: Utilities, Plumbing

1. 1 Shut off the water outside the house. Make sure the water supply is completely shut off at the main entry point. If the heating fails on a very cold day, the water in the pipes can freeze and the pipes burst.
2. 2 Open all taps and drain all water from the water pipes. If you live in an area where water pipes can freeze, drain the toilets, the water heater (turn off the gas or electricity supply first), and the expansion tank.
   • Use an air compressor to blow out any remaining water from the water supply. Dilute the water remaining in the water seals by pouring antifreeze into them.
   • Close the drains down the drain.
   • If you leave the house for a long time, it is necessary to prevent the evaporation of water from the water traps (especially the toilet), otherwise the smell from the sewer will penetrate into the house. Lift the toilet lid and place a ball or ball wrapped in cling film into the hole.
   • If you have an indoor or outdoor pool, drain the water.
   • Turn off and drain fountains and other sources of standing water.
   • Drain water from dishwashers, refrigerators (water or ice dispensers), and washing machines according to the manufacturer's instructions. Remove the water filter from the refrigerator.
   • Drain all types of water filters installed in your home.
3. 3 Lower the thermostat temperature. Set the thermostat to a level that will keep the internal temperature above freezing and keep things dry. If your home is located in a warm, humid climate, you should install a humidity indicator and keep indoor humidity low.
4. 4 Disconnect all electrical appliances. Unless you plan to turn off electricity throughout your home, unplug electrical appliances, including microwaves and televisions, to avoid the risk of fire in the event of a faulty switch or if rodents break the wires.
5. 5 Don't forget to turn off the gas. During extended absences, some experts recommend turning off gas hot water heaters.

Method 2 of 5: Preparing the Kitchen

1. 1 Clean the refrigerator. Do not leave anything in the refrigerator that might go bad while you are away.
   • Remove everything from the freezer. Don't leave anything in the freezer. If the electricity is turned off for a long period of time, the food in the freezer will defrost, deteriorate, and then, when the electricity comes on, it will freeze again without you knowing about it, which is very dangerous.
   • If you must store frozen food, here's one way to determine if the freezer has defrosted: freeze a container of water, then place a coin on the ice surface; if the coin sank into ice when you returned, the freezer was defrosting.
   • Wash the refrigerator and freezer thoroughly. Leave their doors open to prevent mold, mildew and odors from spreading to the plastic parts of the refrigerator.
   • To prevent odors, place an open bag of charcoal inside an open refrigerator.
2. 2 Remove all food from the pantry. Dry foods that remain should be closed in metal cabinets, and seeds or grains should be stored in metal containers with lids.
3. 3 Protect yourself from insects and rodents.
   • Wash trash cans, hide soap, sponges, candles, and other possible sources of food for rodents.
   • Put natural rodent repellent under the sink, use rodent repellent in your garage.
4. 4 Remove anything that might freeze. In areas with temperatures below 0 C, do not leave bottles of liquids such as mineral water, soda, beer, paint in the house, because the bottles can explode if the contents freeze. Pour water out of jars, vases, and even decorative indoor mini fountains.
5. 5 Throw out all the trash from your home before you leave.

Method 3 of 5: Preparing the Rest of the House

1. 1 Wash all laundry. If linen, bedding, towels, etc. remain, they must be washed and then removed from rodents in boxes. Remove mattresses from beds to ventilate. Open empty drawers and cabinets. Use mothballs.
   • Vacuum carpets and floors. This ensures that no crumbs or other food sources are left behind for parasites.
2. 2 Remove all flammable items. Throw away flammable items such as oily rags and waste paper before leaving.
3. 3 Close the chimneys.
4. 4 Arrange with your neighbors to water your houseplants.

Method 4 of 5: Working in the yard

1. 1 Protect your yard and garden.
   • Arrange to have your lawn mowed and shrubs trimmed.
   • Cover plants that are frost tolerant.
   • Arrange for your garden to be watered as needed.
2. 2 Remove outdoor furniture. Remove tables, chairs, hammocks, garden decorations, and more in your garage or shed.
   • Do not leave anything outdoors that could be blown off by strong winds.
3. 3 Hide vehicles under the lock. Recreational vehicles such as boats, ATVs, bicycles, canoes, kayaks, and cars must be locked in a garage or shed. This storage space should be visible from the windows of neighboring houses.

Method 5 of 5: Safety Precautions

1. 1 Lock all entrances to the house. Be sure to use high quality locks for doors and windows. Make sure all your windows and doors are closed and locked. Install locks on doors that don't already have them.
   • Close the blinds on the windows. In addition to an additional security measure, blinds will, along with curtains and curtains, protect carpets and fabrics from fading.
2. 2 Make it appear that the owner is at home. Buy a couple of timers and set them to turn on the lights automatically in the evening. If your home is for summer use only, this is not a viable idea. Instead, ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home from time to time.
3. 3 Do not leave valuables in the house, they can attract the attention of thieves. At the very least, keep them out of line of sight from the windows.
   • Take all things of value with you.
4. 4 Ask not to deliver mail to you.
   • Pay your bills before you leave. You can pay bills remotely over the Internet.
   • Ask your neighbor to pick up any correspondence or packages that may arrive at your address.
5. 5 Have someone check your home regularly. Leave your neighbor the key to your house for emergency access in case something goes wrong. Also leave him your mobile phone number, home phone number, email address.

Tips

• Expect to spend a few hours preparing your home for your extended absence. Your efforts will support the value of the home and ensure its continued long-term existence.
• Make sure your home insurance covers the winter and your absence from home.Due to increased risks (for example, rupture of water pipes, leaks in the gas heating system, etc.), insurance companies may tighten insurance conditions. Some even require someone to check your home regularly if you leave for more than 72 hours. Such clauses in your insurance contract can take away your coverage if you don’t bother to have someone check your home. Also, check the age of the heating system: if it is older than a certain age, you cannot be insured. Take enough time to replace it if necessary.
• If you have a vacation home in a remote area, leave food and dry firewood to help people survive if they find themselves in an emergency. In this case, you will have to leave the house open, this can only be done if you have no valuables in the house.

Warnings

• A water leak that can occur while you are away will significantly increase your water bill and can also cause massive damage. This is especially true if the water supply hose to the washing machine breaks. Once this hose bursts, there is nothing to hold back the large stream of water that rushes to the floor. Cutting off the water at the entrance to the house is the best way to protect against such leaks.