As the winter season approaches, there is nothing more important than preparing your Hamptons home for winter. Many Hamptons homeowners prefer to spend the winter season outside the Hamptons with friends and family, or vacation at winter sports tournaments.
Whether you plan to spend the icy months in the Hamptons or not, winterizing your home implies that you know what to do before the winter months set in. This means that whenever you return for the spring and summer, you get to come back to a home that is well-kept and intact as if you never left.
Winterization involves preparing a home for winter. There are various steps to winterize your secondary Hamptons home. This article explains various winterization steps to get your home ready:
Clean out your gutters and repair your roof
It is essential to clean out your gutters when preparing your secondary home for winter. If not properly cleaned, your gutters can get clogged, resulting in leakage and damage. Cleaning out your gutters before the winter season is vital for two reasons: (1) Excess water left in your gutters could freeze causing damage to your gutters and roof. When the gutters are clean, water from melted snow can drain appropriately in the winter. (2) Normally, after the fall season, there is a big chance that leaves would have fallen into the gutters which will require to be cleaned out.
If not properly maintained, the roof may also be a source of home damage. Conducting routine maintenance on your roof is vital in ensuring that it can survive the winter weather. You must identify any signs of damage like broken or loose shingles, trim the tree branches that could potentially damage your roof, and clear any debris. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Hire a roofing contractor to thoroughly inspect your roof. Hamptons property inspections have got you covered!
Prevent damage by shutting off appliances and key valves
To prevent damage, flooding, or any leaks, and also to save on costs, Hamptons House Watching recommends that you take the following steps:
· Turn off the main water valve. This is typically found in your home’s basement and sometimes on an exterior wall. Shut it off by turning it clockwise.
· Drain the pipes by opening the faucets. After shutting off the valve, it is vital to drain the pipes of any remnant water so they don’t freeze in the frosty weather.
· Make sure your sump pump is working. This pump removes accumulated water. Therefore, inspect the sump pump and ensure that it is working to avoid flooding of your basement due to rainwater. A good way to conduct a routine check is to fill the pump water to see if it activates. If it fails to activate, you will need to have it professionally repaired.
· Regulate your water heater setting. Simply lower the temperature or just set it to “vacation mode,” depending on the type you use.
If you don’t know how to go about all these on your own, then you should consult an expert for help. Hamptons House Watching has experienced professionals that will help you manage this process efficiently.
They have experts to conduct a gas line inspection for you before leaving for winter. This will help avert gas leaks and ensure that there are no issues with your gas line.
Before leaving, do not forget to shut off any electrical appliance that would not be in use. This includes your televisions, computers, and kitchen appliances.
Take measures to prevent the pipes from freezing
To make sure your pipes do not freeze, it is important to drain your plumbing system and adjust your in-home temperature. The first thing is to set your thermostat to the Department of Energy’s recommended range of 50 to 55 degrees whenever you’ll be away for more than 3 winter days. Although this might appear like a waste of energy, however, doing this would stop the pipes from freezing. Subsequently saving you the cost of repairs. Also, leave the doors in your home open. This would allow the heat to effectively saturate your home.
Additionally, prevent your sprinkler system from freezing. First, make sure the water supply is turned off. Afterward, completely drain the water from your irrigation system by “blowing out.” Also, ensure that the main water valve and other aboveground piping are insulated.
Also, ensure that your plumbing system is completely drained. Else, the water might expand when frozen subsequently resulting in your pipes bursting. Where applicable, apply antifreeze. Hamptons House Watching services would manage all these processes for you. They will thoroughly drain your pipes and irrigation system, ensuring that they are prepared for winter.
Thoroughly clean and tidy your home
Before you leave for winter, ensure that you clean all the major areas in your home. Ideally, you can start with the fridge. Wipe down the fridge properly and remove all the perishable items. You would not want anything to decay in your refrigerator while you are away.
For non-perishable food that would still be consumable when you return, store them in airtight containers before putting them in the pantry or fridge. Do not leave the trash in the house. Take them out! Also, if there is any outdoor furniture, make sure you bring them inside the house or the garage to keep them clean and protected from any severe weather.
Before you leave the house, consider changing all bedding, vacuuming, and dust to conduct a more thorough clean. Hamptons House Watching can help you find the perfect cleaning services that will take care of all your home’s cleaning needs.
Seal all means of entry
Tightly seal all the means of entry to prevent the winter elements from coming into your home. Make sure that the windows are tightly closed and locked. If possible, install storm windows in case of a winter storm; this comes with the added advantage of extra insulation. For homes that have a fireplace, close the damper or flue to protect your home from local animals and severe weather.
Take active “Home Watching” measures before leaving home
Before you leave your Hamptons home for the winter, it is vital that you take all the essential security measures to make sure your home is safe. If you have neighbors close by who won’t be leaving for the winter, inform them that you will be away. This will make them conscious in keeping an eye out. Depending on how far you are to your home, you could check up on your home weekly or employ Hamptons House Watching services.
You can be sure to have a winter free of worry when you take all the necessary precautions and steps to winterize your home properly. In addition, you get to come back to a house in top condition after the winter. Hamptons House Watching can manage the entire winterization process for you and ensure that your house is prepared for the winter vacation.
Hamptons House Watching goes above and beyond to protect your home while you're away for the winter. We have a comprehensive list of winterization services which include, but are not limited to:
· Turning off all outdoor plumbing.
· Blowing out irrigation systems.
· Servicing all HVACs.
· Inspecting all pipes and ensure insulation.
· Scheduling roof maintenance.
· Testing security systems.
Just leave your home management to us!