Travel News Steps to Winterizing a Vacation Home

 

Having a second or vacation residence is the perfect way to 'get away from it all' while still feeling right at home! So how do you protect this valuable investment when the weather turns colder? Effectively winterizing your vacation home is essential. Winterizing is different than maintenance performed during the rest of the year.
Specifically preparing your home for winter can potentially save you a world of trouble down the road. Your home's exposure in significantly colder weather can lead to costly repairs and loss of irreplaceable belongings if the residence has not been properly winterized. Here are several tips to help you prepare your vacation home for winter:

• Purchase A Temperature Alarm Dialer
  These devices, sometimes called Freeze Alarms, monitor the temperature of your vacation home. If the temperature drops below a set point, a temperature alarm dialer will call whatever phone number you have specified to issue an audible alarm message. This is especially handy if your vacation home is a considerable distance from your regular residence. You could potentially program the freeze alarm to dial a trusted neighbor or service man in your vacation home's immediate vicinity, with the agreement prearranged for them to handle the emergency.
• Inspect the Furnace
  Having an HVAC service man in to inspect your furnace and ducts can prevent issues while you're away. Clearing the area around your furnace and heating vents of any obstructions or combustibles as a safety precaution is always a good idea.
• Window and Door Check
  make sure to inspect windows and exterior door every season. Check for cracked and/or chipped windows. Consider replacing old weather stripping and old caulking around all windows and doors. Covering basement window wells with plastic covers is also beneficial.
• Roof, Gutters and Downspout Inspection
  Replacing roof tiles or shingles as necessary will prevent from water/ice from forming in areas it should not reach. Make sure to clear out gutters and downspouts to ensure that runoff will be properly distributed away from the house and foundation.
• Foundation Check
  Do a 'walk around' of entire structure and ensure foundation has no cracks. Some mice can enter cracks no thinner than a dime! Check ill plates for rot or infestation. Make sure to secure all your crawl space entrances. Be sure to remove any debris, including vegetation from the foundation base.
• Landscaping Preparation
  Make sure to re-seal any brick patios, driveways or wooden decks. Trim all tree branches that are very close to the residence or nearby electrical lines. Remove sensitive potted plants and/or bulbs inside or to a sheltered area. Purge any sprinkler systems of water. Protect any air conditioning condensing units with a waterproof, breathable cover.
• Fireplace/Chimney Check
  After ensuring the chimney is free of any bird, squirrel or other animal nests - consider installing a chimney screen to prevent animal or bird entrance during the winter months. Double check that the chimney flue damper is operating efficiently. A flue should open and close completely and be able to lock in either position. Consider having a professional chimney sweep clean the fireplace chimney. After years of use - they can become blocked with possible debris, ash or creosote.