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

[bullbreaker]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Storm56]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.