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

[Richard]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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