WINTERIZING YOUR HOME
Vacant Home
Tips for winterizing your vacant home. The most vulnerable pipes are those located on outside walls, uninsulated pipes, and pipes in unheated areas.
Interior Plumbing
- Shut off the main water going into your home. There should be a main shut off valve near where water enters your home. We do not have record of where your shut-off valve would be, nor can we help locate this valve. If you are unsure of shut-off valve location, please contact a plumber. Water Meters are not shut-off valves and should NEVER be utilized as a shut-off valve.
- After turning your water off at the main supply valve entering your home, open all faucets within your home to drain the lines. For multi-story homes, open faucets on the first floor as gravity will draw water from the upper level(s).
- Flush all toilets after turning the water off and draining the lines. This will remove excess water from the tanks.
- Adjust water heater settings to “Vacation Mode”. You can also drain your hot water heater and turn it off. You will need to relight the pilot light upon returning.
- Do not turn your heat off completely, it is ideal to keep your heat set to at least 55° F.
- Open cabinet doors beneath sinks, if applicable.
- Cover exposed pipes with insulating sleeves or wraps, especially in uninsulated areas and along exterior walls.
- Keep your garage door closed as this prevents heat from escaping (bonus perk: this can help your home from unauthorized entry!).
Exterior Plumbing
- Shut off the valves to external water supplies. These are sometimes referred to as isolation valves and should be installed if you have frost-free hydrants or outdoor spigots. We do not have records of where these would be installed, you may need to consult a plumber.
- Once shut off valves are turned off, open all outdoor taps until the water is completely drained from the lines.
- Research indicates this is a good time to clean any gutters and downspouts to prevent any blockage in water flow and prevent ice build-up.
- Disconnect garden hoses and fittings from outdoor spigot. Allow the water hose to lay out flat (preferably on a small incline, you can also use a small air compressor to blow out any remaining water), this will allow any water in the hose to drain and prevent freezing and cracking of the garden hoses.
- Seal any visible gaps or cracks as this will help block drafts that can freeze your pipes.
Occupied Home
Tips for winterizing your occupied home. The most vulnerable pipes are those located on outside walls, uninsulated pipes, and pipes in unheated areas.
Interior Plumbing
- Locate shut-off valves for emergencies. Water Meters are not shut-off valves and should NEVER be utilized as a shut-off valve.
- Allow your cold water to drip in the farthest faucet from your main shut off valve.
- Set thermostats to 55°F during cold weather.
- Open cabinets to keep pipes warm.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas.
- When cold weather is expected, turn water off to outside spigots and drain water from the line (see isolation valves under the Exterior Plumbing tips from the “Vacant Home” section above).
Exterior Plumbing
- See number 3 from the Exterior Plumbing section under “Vacant Home”.
- Disconnect garden hoses and fittings from outdoor spigot. Allow the water hose to lay out flat (preferably on a small incline, you can also use a small air compressor to blow out any remaining water), this will allow any water in the hose to drain and prevent freezing and cracking of the garden hoses.
- Seal any visible gaps or cracks as this will help block drafts that can freeze your pipes. Close off crawl spaces.
- Use pipe sleeves to insulate any pipes that are not currently insulated. (DIY tip: pool noodles can be used in a pinch to insulate pipes, simply cut a slit along the length of the pool noodle, slip it onto the pipe and secure with tape along the slit you created).
- Drain water sprinkler systems. Please refer to manufacturer guidelines.