Depends, would be very easy to install a valve allowing a hose bib in basement to be used while blocking water to the rest of the home.
Winterizing my vacant house
- Thread starter scesnick
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Depends, would be very easy to install a valve allowing a hose bib in basement to be used while blocking water to the rest of the home.
chipsndust
Platinum Member
I have a "camp" (really a 52' trailer) in the mountains, about a 2-1/2 hr drive from my home.
I set the thermostat to the lowest setting (oil-fired forced air), which is about 50 deg. F. (I am careful not to set it all the way down, because that is full OFF)
I open the breakers on the well pump and the water heater. I have heat trace on the well riser, where it comes out of the ground and into the floor of the camp.
The only time I have trouble is if there is an extended power outage, in which case a neighbor gives me a call, and I go up and start the generator.
The biggest problem I have is keeping the 100' driveway clear.
I set the thermostat to the lowest setting (oil-fired forced air), which is about 50 deg. F. (I am careful not to set it all the way down, because that is full OFF)
I open the breakers on the well pump and the water heater. I have heat trace on the well riser, where it comes out of the ground and into the floor of the camp.
The only time I have trouble is if there is an extended power outage, in which case a neighbor gives me a call, and I go up and start the generator.
The biggest problem I have is keeping the 100' driveway clear.
jpm
Platinum Member
i'd leave the heat on 50', it's better on the house from less temp & humity swings.how cold & snowy does it really get. there's a big heat load differance between 20' and >0 and 30 + winds
Tig
Veteran Member
Lots of good advice already given. I'd like to offer a bit of hard learned experience in the great white north. 
Turning the heat down can be risky. If any of your plumbing is near an outside wall or cool area it may still freeze. Small drafts are a huge problem. When my niece was at university, they turned the heat down to 55 to save money in their rented home. The pipes froze and burst repeatedly before I visited in March. It pretty much destroyed the place and "no one could figure out why".
Also be careful with the hot water tank if you turn the heat off in the house and drain it. Some hot water tanks do not drain completely and a few inches of left over water in the bottom can bust the tank.
When I used to winterize my summer place I would drain the tanks and then pressurize the system to 60 lbs with an air compressor. One tap at a time I'd blow the lines out. That worked pretty good but some lines had problematic low spots and old dead end branches. When I redid the plumbing I made sure it was 100% gravity drain. That worked perfect. :thumbsup:
Turning the heat down can be risky. If any of your plumbing is near an outside wall or cool area it may still freeze. Small drafts are a huge problem. When my niece was at university, they turned the heat down to 55 to save money in their rented home. The pipes froze and burst repeatedly before I visited in March. It pretty much destroyed the place and "no one could figure out why".
Also be careful with the hot water tank if you turn the heat off in the house and drain it. Some hot water tanks do not drain completely and a few inches of left over water in the bottom can bust the tank.
When I used to winterize my summer place I would drain the tanks and then pressurize the system to 60 lbs with an air compressor. One tap at a time I'd blow the lines out. That worked pretty good but some lines had problematic low spots and old dead end branches.
When I redid the plumbing I made sure it was 100% gravity drain. That worked perfect. :thumbsup:
OP
scesnick
Veteran Member
I live right on top of a mountain with a 12 acre field in front of it which means PLENTY of wind, pretty much all winter. We had just over 22' of snow last winter. That is why We are buggin' out to begin with.
I do need the water on for the animals. There is no getting around that. We don't plan on being away for more than a few days anyway. The temp monitor sounds like the ticket for sure, just in case the power goes out. Thanks for all the suggestions...
