Winterizing Your Summer Home

Preparing your summer home for winter will help avoid messy spring cleanup due to broken water pipes. Fortunately, it is a simple quick and simple process.

Shut off main water supply at street or basement.

1. Shut off gas lines at entrance to home if present.
   
2. Shut off water at the main line entering the house.
3. Open all faucets and leave them open..
   
4. Have the lines drained by a professional,
   or place insulation and thermostatically controlled heat tape
   around all water supply pipes in crawl spaces and basements..
5. Drain water heater and leave valve open.
   
6. Remove all water from toilet tanks and bowls.
   
7. Pour anti-freeze in toilet bowl and a small amount in tank.
   
8. Pour enough anti-freeze in sink drains and shower drains to fill traps.
   
9. If you choose to remove drain traps, plug line to block sewer gas.
   

• Keep heat on in any areas where there are water or drain pipes.
  
• If this is impractical, wrap them with electric heat tape.
  

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