A Guide for Closing up Your Vacation Home

As another beautiful Cape Cod summer comes to an end, many of our seasonal customers are packing up to head back home for the colder months ahead. To help with the process this year, we’ve put together a list that will guide you through closing up your summer vacation property this fall.

  • Winterize Your Doors and Windows. Make sure your home is well insulated and secure by swapping out your screens for storm windows and doors. Check around the window and door frames for any cracks or leaks and seal them with caulk to prevent the outdoors from getting in.
  • Drain Hoses and Irrigation Systems. Don’t forget about your yard and property outside of your house. Be sure to drain all hoses and store them inside, and turn off any exterior faucets. If you have an irrigation system, drain its hoses as well and tag any sprinkler heads for snow removal purposes.
  • Turn off Your Water Supply Altogether. Check with a plumbing professional to see if it’s safe to turn off your water supply and your heating system before you leave for the season. If it is, go ahead and drain your pipes; this will prevent them from freezing and/or bursting in frigid temperatures. A certified local plumber can blow compressed air through your pipes to ensure they have been drained completely.
  • Add Insulation to Your Pipes. Keep your pipes warmer during freezing weather. Options like heat tape and foam pipe insulation can be applied quickly and affordably by a professional plumber, so you can check one more preparation step off the list with ease!
  • Schedule a Fuel Delivery and System Maintenance. If you haven’t turned off your heating system and do not plan to for the season, particularly if your home will be occupied at some point throughout the colder months, make sure your heating equipment is ready to operate safely. Schedule a tune-up for your oil-fired or gas-fired system. Also, make sure there is enough fuel in your tank—signing up for an automatic oil delivery or propane delivery program is a convenient, hands-off way to make sure you never run out of fuel while you’re away.
  • Unplug and Unwind. Turn off and unplug any unnecessary appliances and chargers. This reduces the risk of an unexpected hazard and can help you save energy.
  • Protect Your A/C System. You may be wondering why this is on the list for winter preparation. However, if you have a central air conditioner, a major component to the system resides outside your house. Be sure to cover any outdoor units so you can come back next summer without worrying about your cooling system’s condition.

If you have any questions or would like assistance with closing up your Cape home for the season, let us know!