How to Winterize Your Vacation Home at the Lake
Did you know that your boat and jet skis aren't the only things that should be winterized this season? If you spend the cold season in another residence, then your Lake Home should probably be winterized to help prevent damage and unpleasant surprises when you return in the spring. Your Favorite Real Estate Team is not just the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks. We care about helping you keep your home in good condition so you can enjoy it for many years to come! Read on to learn some of the best tips on how to prepare your home for the winter.
Protect the Plumbing
Coming back to your vacation home next spring to burst water pipes would not be a fun experience. To help prevent this from happening in your home, there are a few steps you will want to take. First, shut off the main water supply to your house and water heater. Run your faucets to drain them of residual water that could freeze, expand, and burst a pipe. Leaving the faucets and plumbing open could help give any remaining water more room to expand so it won't cause damage. It may be a good idea to call a professional plumber to ensure all of the appropriate steps are taken to minimize the chances of getting damage.
Save Energy
Saving energy over the winter months is a good idea for both your own finances and the environment. To help minimize the energy use in your vacation home while you aren't there, follow a few simple instructions. Shut off your water heater so it doesn't run continuously while it tries to keep water warm. Turn your thermostat down to preserve energy requirements for your HVAC system. A good temperature range is 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help keep items in your home from freezing, but will still help conserve energy. Unplug all kitchen appliances, televisions, wireless doorbells, lamps, wireless phone chargers, nightlights, and anything else that pulls electricity. This can help lower your electric bill while you are gone.
Keep Safety in Mind
It can be nerve-wracking to leave your beloved vacation home unguarded for so long. There are a few ways to feel a little more confident over the winter while you aren't there to watch over your home. Contact the post office to place a hold on any mail that comes to that address. Some criminals are not bold enough to break into your home, but they may take a peek in your mailbox to try and find any packages, credit card offers, or other ways to make a profit and steal your identity. Putting a hold on your mail is relatively simple and can be performed mostly online. If you have a good relationship with neighbors that live in their homes full time, let them know you are leaving and when you will be back. They can help keep an eye out for intruders trying to take advantage of your absence. If you use natural gas in your home, turn off the gas line to help prevent any gas-related leaks that could cause serious damage if a spark occurs. Also, make sure your security system is on and armed when you leave. Some systems even allow you to login remotely and get a live view of what is going on in your house.
Prevent Bad Odors
While it isn't the end of the world, returning to your vacation home ready to have a great time only to find the house full of foul smells is very unpleasant. To help prevent this from happening to you, make sure all of the surfaces are clean before you leave. Dust, vacuum, sweep, mop, and give the kitchen a good wipe-down with antibacterial wipes. Another great tip is to tightly cover your toilets in saran wrap. This helps prevent sewer gas from leaking into your home over the months of your absence and filling the house with caustic odors.
Your Lake of the Ozarks Vacation Home
As the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks, Your Favorite Real Estate Team knows the importance of feeling happy and secure in your home. We hope these winterization tips help you feel that way as you leave for the winter. If you don't have your own vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks yet, give us a call! We would love to make that happen for you.
CONTACT ED SCHMIDT FOR ALL YOUR LAKE OF THE OZARK REAL ESTATE NEEDS
Ed Schmidt, REALTOR
752 Bagnell Dam Blvd. Suite A
Lake Ozarks, Mo 65049
Phone: 573-240-9052
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