If you own a part-time home, there are things you need to keep in mind with the changing of the seasons.

If you own a vacation home, you aren’t always around when the weather changes. You keep in mind summer storms but have you thought about the potential of what a freeze can do to your home. Here are things to remember when preparing your second home for winter weather.

Prepare Your Second Home for Winter

Consider Your Water Usage

If you are away from the home for the winter, you should consider turning off the water to the house and draining water from pipes. If you will be using the house on the weekends, you should at least turn off the water to the outside spigots if possible, in case a freeze occurs while you are away.

Clean Out the Gutters

Make sure the gutters are clear from debris before you leave. Full gutters can cause water to back up, which can damage the roof, siding, and trim. You don’t want to create leaks or have the water pool and freeze.

Prevent Winter Rodent Activity

Rodents are looking for warm places to spend the winter. Make sure to thoroughly inspect your home for any possible entry points. The last thing you want to come back to is a critter having taken up residence in your vacation home.

Pro tip: Leave the inspection and rodent eradication to the professionals.

Test Your Detectors

This is important no matter when you are closing up your home. Make sure all smoke detectors are properly functioning. When you are away, you want peace of mind knowing that someone would be alerted if a fire was to start.

These are just a handful of things that you need to do to make sure your home away from home is prepared for the winter elements. Does this not sound like a fun way to spend time on your vacation? Find a company that can handle the checklist for you!

Home Watch Services in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head Exterminators has proudly served the Lowcountry since 1968 and now offers Home Watch Services. These services are built to give you peace of mind while you are away and allow you to return to your second home without the stress of a long to-do list. Home Watch Services offers regular home inspections, reports of findings, and access to additional services such as severe weather preparedness and response, seasonal maintenance appointments, and more.