Winterizing your home

Posted at 1:00 PM, Oct. 23, 2007

If you happen to own a property that will be vacant through the next few months, whether for a few weeks or months, then you will want to make sure your home is winterized. What is winterizing, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

It's really pretty straightforward. The first thing that you want to do is make sure that your thermostat is set to between 55 and 60 degrees to insure that water pipes don't freeze and to protect the home against freezing temperatures. Also, if it is a property that you are trying to sell, prospective buyers won't be totally frozen when they come through the home. Keeping under-sink cabinet doors open allows the pipes under the sinks to keep at a consistent temperature as well.

If you will be out of the home for an extended period of time, have the plumbing winterized by a qualified technician. This will help assure that water pipes don't freeze and crack.

If you have an inground sprinkler system, have it winterized by a qualified technician, even if you are occupying your home through the winter months. I found out through personal experience that it can be expensive to fix them!

If you would prefer to not winterize your home, that's a risk that you can take, but let me warn you that you could come home to one of the following:

Don't let it happen to you! Contact me if you need a specific checklist for winterizing your home. Enjoy your winter!