Gorgeous beaches, beautiful scenery and fresh water… it’s no wonder many love to make Saugatuck, South Haven and Holland their Northern summer retreats. However, not wanting to deal with the frigid winter, many decide it is best to make this their summer home.
Often, the joy of going back south for the winter is tainted with the stress of what may happen to your Michigan home during the harsh winter. This stress is rightfully placed if you choose to leave your home without taking any precautions. There is a lot that can go wrong in a short period of time.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to prepare your home, that will give you the peace of mind you deserve while gone!
Most Common Issues a Vacant Home Faces in Southwest Michigan:
We perform many home watch visits a season and keep detailed data analytics on everything, we can tell you what goes wrong, where it goes wrong, and how often. Below is a quick graph showing you the 4 most common types of issues we see each season.
HVAC and water related incidents are not just the most common issue we face but also the ones that have the potential to have the most terrible consequences.
One small issue could lead to long term challenges: from extensive roof damage, to flooding to break-ins and storm damage.
List of Actions You can Take to Prepare Your Home
While things can go wrong while you are away, doing these simple actions can better prepare your home:
Reducing the Risk of Water Damage
Preventing potential water damage is one of the most important things you can do before you leave for the season. In fact, most Homeowner’s Insurance policies will deny your claim if over 30 days transpire from when an issue manifest to when it is caught. The last thing you want is for a pipe to burst and your home becomes an ice skating rink in winter!
Turn off Your Main Water Valve
Whenever you are gone for more than 10 days, it is important to turn off your water valve before you leave to prevent water damage from happening to your home. Remember, this will not solve all water related issues as there is still water in the pipes from before you turned off your water valve, water in your tank-based Hot Water Heater, and the constant snow and ice that marks the winter here in Saugatuck, South Haven and Holland areas.
Keep in mind, when your water is shut off for prolonged periods of time it can lead to insects, noxious odors, or dried out seals. Therefore, every time your Home Watch Company comes, they should run water through every sink, faucet, and trap. But whenever the house is unoccupied that water should be off!
Empty the Ice Maker
While many of your appliances should be turned off before you leave, your refrigerator is not one of them. However, within your fridge you should turn off your ice maker! Make sure to turn off your ice maker and empty it. If we lose power, the ice in the freezer could melt, and lead to water damage!
Pro Tip: Leave a bowl of ice for your Home Watch professional, if it loses shape/form, they’ll know you had a surge.
Properly Set Your Thermostat
By properly setting your thermostat, you reduce the likelihood of pipes bursting and/or mold forming. However, while you are gone, your Home Watch professional should still monitor the humidity levels in your home (even if you have a smart thermostat).
- Set the temperature between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit
- Put the fan setting on AUTO
Leave Doors Partially Open
- Dishwasher
- Washing Machine
- Pantry
- Closets
It is important to leave these doors slightly ajar to allow for proper air flow. By doing this you will help let areas dry out properly and avoid moisture which can lead to mold.
Recent Comments