Preparing for winter is when a house is prepared to become vacant. This process prepares the plumbing system and components so that they are not affected by extreme temperatures (so that the pipes do not freeze). The process must be done when a house is expected to be empty during the heating season, that is, during the winter. When finished, the house can now safely remain empty without utilities, specifically, without heating.
What is “preparing for winter” anyway? A house is properly prepared to be vacant during the winter season, when it can take out what Mother Nature offers and survive without suffering preventable damage. Homes sometimes suffer damage due to cold and stormy winters, whether or not they are prepared for winter, but proper preparation for winter will stop “preventable damage” to homes, such as broken pipes, gas leaks, and more. Assuming you don't live in a neighborhood where known thieves reside, notify your trusted neighbors that you won't be home for extended periods in winter. When you see the bank's winterization notice in the front window of a property you want to make an offer on, make sure your realtor tells you how de-wintering works with that particular financial institution, so you know what to expect when you proceed with the home inspection.
If you have a summer vacation home that you don't occupy in winter, be sure to take a fall weekend to visit the house and prepare it for winter. If you're not sure if you're following any of these winter preparation tips or they seem overwhelming, seek professional help. Basically, preparing a house for winter means that the plumbing system is prepared to withstand the cold winter temperatures and freeze the pipes by draining all the water from the system, including the water heater. Originally, a winter readiness notice meant that the pipes in an empty, unheated house were prepared to withstand a severe winter frost without breaking pipes or being damaged by water. You must also invest in hiring a professional gutter cleaning service such as Gutter Cleaning Pleasanton CA to inspect if the gutters are draining well. Debris from there gutters if not removed and get freeze will add weight and might also damage even your roof shingles.
Therefore, plumbing fixtures cannot be tested in a winter-ready home, and you may not be able to operate electrical and gas appliances either. This reduces or eliminates the risk of accidental release, which can lead to the explosions you've read about, especially in winter. Preparing for winter protects against damage caused by broken water pipes and against heat loss due to openings in the building envelope. Ask them to “keep an eye on your home and report any unusual activity or damage it suffers” (give them your contact phone number and contact email address for the winter).
Inspectors must know how winter preparation works and be able to transmit this information to their customers. Preparing for winter always involves draining water from the pressurized supply pipe, connecting the water heater and putting “DO NOT USE” signs on sinks and toilets. If you live in the northeastern part of the country or in the upper Midwest, you know that your home may be subject to the brutal Northeast or severe winter weather. If you're going to be out and about during the winter months, you should avoid plumbing problems.
