Primer: the empty house in January
Leaving Your Home Empty in Winter
A house left alone in winter has no one to notice a cold room or a dripping pipe. A little planning before you leave for a holiday or a snowbird season prevents the most expensive surprises.
- Plain steps you can do yourself, safely
- Clear signs for when to stop and call
- Written for Newmarket houses and water
- A plumber on the phone if it goes sideways
What goes wrong in the pipes
Newmarket winters regularly bring stretches well below freezing. If the furnace stops while you are away, pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and under sinks on outside walls can freeze within hours. When they thaw, a split pipe can run unnoticed for days. Many insurance policies also expect homes to be checked regularly while vacant, so read yours before you go.
The risk is not limited to snowbirds. A week at a cottage over the holidays or a family visit in February is long enough for a furnace igniter to fail and the house to cool. The steps below scale up or down depending on how long you will be gone.
Have these on hand
- Pipe insulation sleeves
- Frost-free hose bib cover
- Hair dryer (never a torch)
- Thermometer for the coldest room
Hands-on steps
- Keep the heat on. Set the thermostat to a steady moderate temperature rather than turning it down drastically. Replace the furnace filter and consider a furnace service before a long trip.
- Arrange a house check. Ask a trusted neighbour or friend to visit regularly, check the temperature, look under sinks and peek at the basement.
- Shut off the water. For longer absences, turn the main valve off, then crack a few taps on the lowest floor to relieve pressure. Leave the heat on regardless.
- Protect the water heater. Set it to vacation mode if it has one, or follow the manufacturer's guidance for a long absence.
- Open cabinet doors. On kitchen and bathroom sinks along outside walls, open the doors so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Drain outside taps. Close the inside valves and drain the hose bibs.
- Use a monitor. A smart thermostat, temperature alert or water leak sensor can notify you if something goes wrong.
Mistakes that turn a small repair big
- Turning off the heat completely. Shutting off the water does not drain the pipes; water remains in them and can still freeze.
- Forgetting the sump pump. A midwinter thaw can still send water into the pit. Make sure the pump is plugged in and working.
- Assuming a newer home is safe. Pipes in garages, bonus rooms and exterior walls can freeze in any house.
- Not telling your insurer. Policies vary on vacant-home conditions. Check your coverage before a long trip.
When to put the tools down and call
Call before you leave if your main shut-off is seized or you need help draining the system for a long winter away. Call immediately if your house checker finds no water from a tap, frost on pipes, or water on the floor; ring (365) 517-0623. We handle burst pipe repair and can check your pump through our sump pump repair service. Our guide to frozen pipe prevention covers protecting pipes while you are home too.
Asked on site
Close the main before a trip?
Over the winter, for absences beyond several days, closing the main is wise. Keep the heat on, because water stays in the pipes.
What temperature should I leave the thermostat at?
Keep it at a moderate, steady temperature. Your furnace or insurance provider may give specific guidance.