Potentially massive damage Let’s keep this short and simple: nothing ruins a home quite like water or fire. Water damage can result from frozen pipes, leaking supply lines, dripping water heaters, or other causes. Any damage will be greatly reduced by turning off the water before you go on vacation.

The main water may come through the concrete floor or through the wall. The valve is typically within three to five feet of where the main water enters. In some cases, the main water may enter in a different area, like a mechanical room, up through the floor, near the water heater or furnace.

Restoring the water supply is the last step when quieting your pipes.

1. Allow all faucets and spigots inside and outside the home to remain open from one-quarter to one-third of the way.
2. Locate the main water valve.
3. Turn the main water valve on.
4. Open all faucets and spigots another one-quarter to one-third of the way.

Turning off the main water supply to your home is the best defense against flooding caused by a burst pipe or other plumbing failure. Closing the valve on the main supply line cuts off water to the house, but still allows outside sprinklers to work.

If they have a loss of water too, it may be the result of a main break. But if they have running water, it’s likely your pipes have frozen. Turn off the water immediately at the main shut off valve. Leaks or pools of water from pipes means there was a burst or crack.

Water heaters should be turned off for any absence of more than a few days, and should be turned off and drained for long absences. Draining the water system of a home is best done by a plumber, who can make sure appliances and traps in toilets and sinks are cleared of water or properly treated against freezing.

You should set the temperature around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (℉). Most of the time, dropping the thermostat to 50 °F to save some heating bill is fine. You don’t need to set your thermostat too high if your plumbing runs within the interior walls. You should have no issues by leaving the thermostat at 50 °F.

Home Alone: How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Vacancy

1. Turn off the water supply. The most important thing you need to do, especially if you’re leaving for the entire winter, is shut off your water supply.
2. Drain the waterlines.
3. Insulate pipes.
4. Turn down the heat.
5. Unplug all appliances.
6. Throw out the trash.

Either leave the utilities connected with the heating system on at a low temperature throughout winter, or switch them off completely. Have someone keep an eye on the house. Check security, look for water leaks, damp and mould and pests or vermin. Lock valuables away in a safe or move them to a secure place.

Generally, there are no set-rules in place that state how long you can leave your unoccupied property vacant for. However, it is important to note that most standard home insurance providers will only cover an empty property for 30 to 60 days.

Generally, if you plan to leave your home vacant or unoccupied for 30 days or more, you’ll want to purchase unoccupied or vacant house insurance. While terms vary by policy, most insurance companies will deny claims that are made if your home is left alone for longer than 30 days.

A Checklist to Complete If You’re Leaving Your Home for an Extended Period of Time

1. Alert the post office to hold your mail until you return.
2. Stage your home as if you are still there.
3. Set an alarm.
4. Place small valuables in a hidden place or safe.
5. Hire someone or notify your neighbor to do the simple things.

How long can you leave your house unoccupied? If you know in advance that you are going away and you have some time to prepare for leaving the home empty, then there’s no limit to how long you can leave your house unoccupied.

How to Close a House for Three Months

1. Shut off any propane or natural gas or propane valves.
2. Unplug all electrical and electronic appliances.
3. Prune trees with overhanging branches that could fall on your house in a high windstorm.
4. Stop mail and newspaper delivery to the house.
5. Close and lock all windows and doors.

If you’re only going to be gone for a short time, just a day or two, it’s better to keep the air conditioner on, but set at a higher temperature. Cooling an empty house to the temperature you’d be comfortable at while home can be wasteful and unnecessary.

Leaving your air conditioner on is actually more efficient than frequently turning it on and off. Having your AC on also allows you to better control humidity in your home throughout the day. The lower the humidity in a home, the more comfortable it feels during hot weather.

In general, it is cheaper to leave the AC on all day during very hot temperatures. However, it’s not efficient to keep it on full blast all the time. For many systems, this can mean less efficient cooling, more frequent repairs, and higher energy bills.