How To Close Up A Vacation Home For The Season

Saying goodbye to your vacation home is a bittersweet moment. It gives you something to look forward to, but you will also miss it. Understandably, many people struggle with how to close up a vacation home for the season.

The first step to close up a vacation home for the season is to thoroughly clean each room and remove trash. Remove the food from your refrigerator, then unplug it and your other electronics to reduce your electric bills. Set your thermostat to 55 degrees, shut off the water supply, and patch leaks to prevent frozen pipes. 

It’s also a great idea to exchange contact information with your neighbors. That way, they can check on your house and update you if anything comes up. Follow along as we explore how to close up a vacation home for the season. 

How To Close A Vacation Home

1. Clean Each Room

There is no better time to clean your vacation time than when you close it for the season. This is your chance to declutter, vacuum, mop, dust, and clean your counters. That way, you won’t have to worry about coming back to a dirty home on your next vacation. 

You may still need to dust the surfaces in your vacation home when you return, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Make sure to empty the trash bins and remove trash bags before you leave. Otherwise, you may return home to a mess of flies and foul, spoiled food and odors. 

2. Fix Leaks

Your vacation home may have minor leaks, but it doesn’t take long for it to become a serious problem. That’s especially true if you won’t return to your vacation home until after the winter. After all, cracks and leaks are among the most common ways pipes freeze and burst.

The last thing you want is to return to your vacation home and find thousands of dollars in water damage. You can fix minor leaks without professional help if you use epoxy putty. However, it’s worth hiring a plumber if you have several leaks, especially if they’re major. 

It’s also important to fix faucet leaks before you leave your vacation home for the season. While you’re at it, it’s also worth insulating your pipes. This can protect them from freezing, expanding, and bursting during the winter. 

3. Unplug Electronics

You may get expensive electric bills even if you haven’t been to your vacation home in months if you leave your electronics plugged in. This is known as phantom loads, as devices still drain power when plugged in even when turned off. Go room by room and unplug your TV, computer, printer, and power strips. 

4. Clean And Close The Chimney

Have you used your fireplace throughout the spring and summer? If so, the flue may still be open. Closing the chimney flue is essential before you leave your vacation home for the season.  

For example, pests like mice and bats can sneak into your vacation home through the chimney. Rain, snow, and ice can also enter your vacation home through the chimney if the flue is open. Make sure the chimney flue is closed and remove ashes from the fireplace. 

5. Empty Your Refrigerator And Pantry

The last thing you want is to come back to your vacation home and find expired food. You can avoid this problem if you empty your refrigerator and pantry. Some people leave food with a long expiry date in the refrigerator and empty everything else.

The downside to this option is that you cannot unplug your refrigerator if you leave food in it. Instead, you should empty everything and take the food you want to keep with you. That way, you can unplug your refrigerator to save money on your energy bill. 

Some people leave non-perishable foods in their pantries during the off-season. This is a viable option unless you’re worried about pests. However, you don’t need to worry as much about sealed canned food if you close your pantry door. 

6. Unclog Your Gutters

Clogged gutters can wreak havoc on any house, especially if you aren’t there to catch the problem. Foundation damage is the worst-case scenario, which costs thousands of dollars to repair. Clogged gutters can make water pool near the foundation and soak into the concrete.

You can largely avoid this problem if you carefully clean your gutters before closing up your vacation home. Exercise caution when you clean your gutters, as you must climb a ladder. Carefully remove leaves, twigs, and debris. 

It’s worth installing gutter guards once you clean your gutters. They help keep debris out of your gutters and ultimately prevent clogs. 

7. Shut Off The Water

Shutting off the water is essential if you won’t return to your vacation home for months. Otherwise, there’s a strong chance that your pipes will freeze and burst when the temperature drops. It’s easy to shut the water off if you find the main water valve.

The valve is easy to find if you pay attention to where the water supply enters your home. You can typically find the water valve in the basement or near the water heater. 

Once the water is off, you must drain the pipes, so they don’t freeze over winter. Run each of your faucets and showerheads until the water stops flowing. 

8. Adjust Your Thermostat

Some people shut the HVAC systems in their vacation homes when they leave for the year. This is a mistake, as it can cause the pipes to freeze when it gets cold. Instead, you should set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. 

That way, your house will stay warm enough that the pipes won’t freeze. Granted, you will likely have to adjust your thermostat when you come back to your vacation home. 

9. Talk To Your Neighbors

It’s easier to feel peace of mind when closing your vacation home if you exchange phone numbers with your close neighbors in case there is an emergency. That way, you can occasionally check in with them to see how your house is. 

They can let you know if anything seems unusual, such as unknown visitors. Depending on how well you know them, you can also ask them to check on your house every once in a while. This isn’t mandatory, but it can help reduce any worries you may have about leaving your vacation home. 

10. Perform A Security Check

It’s important to check your vacation home before you leave for weak points in security. For example, you should never leave a spare key on your porch, even if you hide it well. Your home may also be vulnerable to burglars if your valuable possessions are visible.

Close the curtains in rooms where valuable items, like TVs and computers, are visible from outside. Some people even hide their valuable belongings in closets or out of view of the windows. It’s worth investing in motion-activated floodlights to give the impression that your vacation home isn’t vacant. 

You can also set lights to a timer to turn on at night to keep burglars away. Installing and turning on an alarm system is essential. Avoid getting packages delivered to your vacation home when you’re gone, as that may entice criminals. 

Summing It Up

Clean each room in your vacation house and unplug electronics before closing up for the season. Unclog the gutters to prevent foundation damage and empty the refrigerator and pantry. Shut off the water supply, drain the pipes, and set the thermostat to 55 degrees, so the pipes don’t freeze and burst. 

Related Guides:

• Pre-Vacation Home Checklist For The Winter Months
• What To Do With Your Aquarium When You Go On Vacation