how to prepare your holiday home for winter
- ownership
- seasons
As the dark nights draw in and the winter months are approaching it’s important to start thinking about how to prepare your holiday home for the winter close.
Over winter your holiday home will be empty and exposed to drastic weather which means you want to be as thorough as you can to prevent any damage whilst you are away. Below you will find a range of tips we have put together on exactly how to prepare your holiday home for the winter close to ensure it is safe, secure and clean when you return in spring.
deep clean and clear out
Before you leave your holiday home over winter you want to ensure you have done a full deep clean and clear out. Wipe down all surfaces, vacuum and mop any floors and clear out all the cupboards of any food etc. This is an extremely important step as you might have spilt something you didn’t know about so ensuring you’ve cleaned everything means nothing if left dirty for a long period of time and you don’t return to an unpleasant smell in the spring.
avoid damp
With the colder months you can expect to experience damp a lot easier, but this can be avoided. Damp leads to mould, which is a health hazard, it can also ruin soft furnishings and leave marks on the walls so its important to do what you can to avoid it.
- place dehumidifiers around your holiday home to absorb any moisture
- pull all furniture away from walls and windows
- put old bed sheets over furniture and furnishings
- either remove all bedding or place into vacuum bags
- leave all interior doors open to allow air circulation
appliances, utilities and plumbing
The temperature drops in the winter months which means there is an increased risk of frozen pipes and bursts. So before you lock up ensure a proper drain down has been done. (You can contact reception to book a drain down or for further advice) Turn off all water and then ensure everything has been drained down to remove any threat of bursts.
- empty the fridge and freezer, turn off and leave the doors open
- drain all toilet cisterns
- unplug all electrical appliances
- turn off gas and insulate pipes and water tanks
ensure holiday home is secure
Since you won’t be going back to your holiday home over winter you want to ensure it is as secure as it can be. You can do this by:
- leaving no garden furniture outdoors
- make sure valuables aren’t on show from windows or remove them from your holiday home
- install motion-triggered lighting on the exterior
- ensure all windows and doors are locked