How do you "close down" your home when gone?

Richard · May 31, 2011

It's looking like we might move to Florida!

We will be keeping our existing home since it's almost paid for and, located on my wifes childhood family farm. I'll probably own this house until the day I die.

So... after we move to Florida and come to visit in this house... when we leave, what all might we look at doing during winter months?

My presumptions are:

1. Leave power turned on but to maybe 55 degrees or something like that. (I'm on a heat pump)
2. Turn well pump off, drain water heater, drain pressure tank & lines
3. Leave refrigerator plugged in or not?
4. If fridge is plugged in, I guess it's ok to leave drinks (bottled/canned) in there but not perishable's
5. Unplug various items? (washer/dryer, tv's, other??)

Interestingly, it's looking like this house might finally fill the roll it was designed for... that being... to be our lake house while we lived in town.

Little did I realize that "in town" might be 8 hours away at the "beach house"

Bird · May 31, 2011

Personally, I'd probably leave the refrigerator plugged in and running. But if you do turn it off or unplug it, be sure you prop the door open instead of leaving it closed.

Western · May 31, 2011

Good ideas,
Only thought I have is make a master list that you keep in the kitchen or whatever, so you know the protocols when you return, or if you allow friends or family members to use the house. It would be easier for others to follow your "start up/ shut down list" and a good reminder for yourself. Kinda like a rental or time share house with an instruction booklet.

jmanatee2 · May 31, 2011

If temps could fall below freezing
Only change from below is we leave heat set on 55* and dont turn off boiler

If temps will be above freezing

We turn off:
Central AC breaker
Well Pump Breaker
Main water valve (after expansion tank)
Boiler

We unplug or shut off
Everything that is easy to unplug (Coffee pot, toaster, phone chargers, TV, Computers, etc..) A lot of our stuff is plugged into an UPS or power strip so we just turn those off.

We leave the fridge plugged in.

chucko · May 31, 2011

have some low power using long lasting lights (like LED ones) on timers to make it look like someone is home. on in living room dark till 10pm and then on in bed room from 9 to 11 have it shine on the window so it can be seen outside
You have someone keeping an eye on the place keeping it mowed and such so it looks like someone is there.

jmanatee2 · May 31, 2011

chucko said:
have some low power using long lasting lights (like LED ones) on timers to make it look like someone is home. on in living room dark till 10pm and then on in bed room from 9 to 11 have it shine on the window so it can be seen outside
You have someone keeping an eye on the place keeping it mowed and such so it looks like someone is there.

Also one other thing we do is have someone move my truck, Park it a couple days one way then turn it around and park it like that for a couple days etc...

Richard · May 31, 2011

being on my wifes family farm....her father lives 2 doors down, uncle (and cousin) live next door...

That's no guarantee of safety but... at least friendly eyes are watching

beenthere · May 31, 2011

Check that the insurance covers you while being gone for long periods of time.

With the FIL close by, I'd not worry too much (although in some cases the relatives can be our worst enemy with access to our homes).

radioman · May 31, 2011

There is much more to it then that when "closing home" for extended periods of time. I helped out a couple elderly people who owned 2 homes. one by lake thats a summer home and other in city as all around home. The summer home, since we are in a freezing area, you can't depend on power being on all the time. So the water lines are blown clear. luckly most of it is already sloped to a drain point.
I just use a adapter I made to connect to outside faucet to air compressor. I take leftover antifreeze from car flush and pour some down the toilet, washing machine, dishwasher, sinks, tubs,etc -anything that has water to drain out. You can't reach every crook and nanny so it needs to be winterized against water from freezing. You don't need a whole lot of antifreeze either. The biggest problem I have are ice makers. those plastic connectors are not strong enough to withstand freezing on the outside part of freezer. wanna ask me how I know? :laughing:

I use the 3 month bug killer and spray around the doors as there are cracks for ants to come in. I use mothballs in garage, and rat poison in sheds. Its the little things you do to make less work when you open up with less surprises.

one little advice, if it going to be closed up, its a good idea to have someone to check it biweekly as someone or animal is always breaking in if left alone for more then a month.

bullbreaker · May 31, 2011

Notify post office not to deliver mail till further notice,same if you have newspaper service.

Tie rattlesnakes by tail strategecally placed around house,barn,etc to scare off unwanted guests.

Boone

bullbreaker · May 31, 2011

BTW: RICHARD
You might find this site helpful as far as info into area of Sunshine State your moving to.

Boone
City-Data.com Forum: Relocation, Moving, Local City Discussions

RSKY · May 31, 2011

Flush all commodes then pour quarter bottle Clorox in tank and flush again. When it shuts off pour quarter bottle in tank again and the remaining half in the bowl.

When our kids were small we took a two week vacation and one peed and didn't flush. When we got back, middle of summer, we had to open windows and air the house out before going to bed. This was about two in the morning.

tungularafishcamp · May 31, 2011

Board up all windows and doors, drain all water, shut off all 12v and 110 power, cover chimney, winterize all motors, put satellite dish and radio antennas away, remove greenhouse covers and tarp over beds after kelping them. Put all clothes and bedding in plastic, canned and dry goods in airtight steel barrels, put all valuables away in hidden cellar,bleach every food surface and fridge n freezers (leave propped open) screw sheets of tyvek to siding and spread half a dozen mothballs around everywhere. Makes you never want to leave!!

Tig · May 31, 2011

Fridge cleaned out, unplugged and propped open.
Heat off.
Electronics unplugged. Minimal breakers on.
Water drained. Lines blown out with a compressor if gravity won't do the job.
Is you pump a deep well pump? If it's above ground then it has to be drained also.
Water traps flushed with PLUMBING ANTIFREEZE. It's cheap and non toxic.
Do you have a sump pump? Plasma TV?
Temps around here have hit -40 and this is the way we shut things down in the fall.

beenthere · May 31, 2011

I think the OP is from TN. And in-laws live next door.

Storm56 · May 31, 2011

We go south for a couple of months in the winter. I leave the heat at 50 but still winterize the place. Drain lines, anti-freeze the toilets, traps, dish washer and washer. Leave the fridge unplugged and open. Take all freezeables from the cabinets down to the basement. Turn off the breaker for the well pump and shut down the water heater.

This way if we lose power or the furnace, no big deal. We have a low temp sensor on our security alarm and it notifies the alarm co whom in turn notifies us if the temp goes below 45 and we can take whatever steps are required at that point.

We do not have the luxury of family close by to keep an eye on things and I try not to burden my contact anymore than necessary. Works for us! The alarm system gives us good peace of mind.

heehaw · May 31, 2011

we set the thermostat at about 45 degrees: turn off the water heaters, turn off the water at the meter, an leave...have had not problems so far: we do not drain the water heaters, we do leave the fridge on, even though there is next to nothing in it..not sure thats the wisest thing...but mainly make sure your insurance co is ok with this...we had farm bureau, an they told us to find other insurance..they were not willing to insure a home that was not the primary residence, an occupied...100%.
heehaw

UpToNoGood · Jun 1, 2011

If your going to leave the frig on put a container in the freezer about 75% full of water and freeze it. Then add a penny on top of the ice and cap it with the lid. If you should loose power and the temp in the freezer should drop below freezing for too long the penny will sink to the bottom and re-freeze when the power comes back on. Then you will know if your food is good or not by looking at the penny.

Richard · Jun 1, 2011

beenthere said:
I think the OP is from TN. And in-laws live next door.

Yes, this is accurate.

There is hardly any way that someone could get to my house without having to pass by the other two houses. (it IS possible but they'd have to come the long way from the back side of the farm and through the fields)

I've been doodling around the idea of renting it out too. It's a log house, in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful lake with a dock.

I'm thinking there are going to be people who might want to get away from it all for a weeks vacation, bring their boat and have at it....while also being near enough town that they can get groceries or hospital or even work if need be.

That won't be for 6 months if it were to happen.... or even next summer. Right now it's just ideas rolling through my head.

Wifes cousin (next door) owns about 15 duplex rentals so he's busy as a bee taking care of those....BUT....is also accustomed to fooling with the rental world.

Might work out nicely with him being next door and taking a cut of the pie.

clemsonfor · Jun 1, 2011

I turn the heat totally off at my farm house when not there. There is nothing the cold will hurt, esp since i turn the water off. The only electronics are cheap (meaning older style) tvs that i easily can replace with extras, and alarm clocks.