by James Johnson

Created on: January 17, 2010

There are few things easier than winterizing a vacant house, with the key phrase being "vacant house".  This means no one is expected to be using the house during the winter, so it can be completely shut down.  It needs no electricity or gas, no water for the toilets and no fires burning in the fireplace (assuming it even has a fireplace).  The doors and windows can be completely sealed!

Lets start with water, that is the most important.  Water expands as it freezes and it can expand unevenly, that is what breaks pipes and runs up water bills, especially if there is no one in the house to notice.  If possible, turn off the water going into the house and then disconnect the line, this should allow all the water to drain out of the pipes in the house.  If disconnecting the main line isn't possible, turn off the water and then flush all the toilets and open up the faucets.  Do the hot water as well as the cold, and leave the taps open as long as the house is going to be vacant.  This allow the water to expand and hopefully not break any pipes.

Cut off the electricity and gas, the house is going to be vacant and so it will not be needed.  If there is a storm and the pipes or lines get damaged, you may not know and then  the gas or electricity can cause a major accident such as a fire.  If they are turned off and then you turn them on, you will like notice the problem before it becomes dangerous!

Sealing the house becomes the next priority.  Why seal it?  It will keep out the weather, and the varmints!  Close the roof vents, they will let out residual heat and that will attract things such as squirrels , mice and rats, they will gnaw  through the screen to get into a warm, dark place, and then may find the insulation on the wire a nice snack!  You should for the same reason use draft extruders over any outside doors, make sure the windows are properly shut and locked, and close the draft on the chimney!  It can be used as an access point as well!

House should now be ready to survive that long, cold winter being vacant while you follow the birds and head south!

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