View Full Version : How do I prepare a house for a six month absence?
Richard K
07-11-2014, 07:16
We will be spending the winter in Arizona and our house in southern Colorado will be vacant for six months. This was previously a vacation home and we sometimes didn't get down here for two months. I just turned off the water and set the heat at 55 degrees. After two months the toilets would be almost dry.
My concern is that after six months they would be completely dry and the house would be full of sewer gasses. I thought about pouring RV anti-freeze in all the sinks and washer drain and plugging them but what about the toilets? Will RV anti-freeze evaporate like water does? Can't use automotive anti-freeze because of the septic system.
At the house in AZ we have a service that comes in once a month and makes sure all the p traps and toilets are full as well as inspecting the house overall. There's no such service available at the house in CO.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
A little vegetable oil can be used to form a skin and stop evaporation.
Maybe upside down water filled "jugs" in the bowl. Think of those cheep automatic water bowl feeders that used 2 liter bottles.
Haven't tried it but seems the same principle might work.
Aloha_Shooter
07-11-2014, 07:43
Plastic wrap the bowls after you clean them thoroughly. Zero evaporation. :D
Plastic wrap the bowls after you clean them thoroughly. Zero evaporation. :D
Not zero, you still get evaporation via the stack. But I can't imagine that amounts to much.
O2
When looking for a house I noticed some of the vacant ones had something blue in toilets and plastic wrap. Maybe go anti-freeze with plastic wrap.
ruthabagah
07-11-2014, 08:39
A little vegetable oil can be used to form a skin and stop evaporation.
+1 to this. Works great.
Discuss this with your insurance agent so you are clear on how your policy handles vacancies.
Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 09:07
You need to shut the water off at the main, OR have it drip, OR have someone check the house. If you don't turn off the water and we get a cold snap, your lines may break. If you leave the water on and slow drip. It will keep the p-traps full and not freeze. However being gone as many months as you will. It probably isn't feasible.
Maybe a neighbor or someone could come check on the house?
thvigil11
07-11-2014, 09:49
Rent it out to some Illegals, sorry I mean Displaced Undocumented Social Refugees in Need Of Our Tax Dollars.
[LOL]
thvigil11
07-11-2014, 09:49
Better yet, just let them live there for free. They deserve it after all.
[ROFL3]
Full winterization. Shut off the water. Drain and blow down the lines. Shop vac out your toilets tank and bowl. Rv antifreeze all the drains. Plastic over them.
Anything less greatly increases the risk of flooding
Richard K
07-11-2014, 10:03
Maybe a neighbor or someone could come check on the house?
Thanks for all the suggestions!
We have a service check the house in AZ but a service/neighbor is not an option here.
We'll all just pitch in and do it in shifts. I'll take the 6th Sunday of every month.
Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 10:19
If one could shoot on the property. Id be happy to spend some time there. Give the spouse a chance to check SoCo out
lead_magnet
07-11-2014, 11:28
What area is this place in? Maybe a forum member can check on it for you. I'm in the SE.
Richard K
07-11-2014, 11:48
If one could shoot on the property. Id be happy to spend some time there. Give the spouse a chance to check SoCo out
That's the downside. We're on 35 acres but after my wife fell in love with the views and we bought it, I got a copy of the covenants and shooting is not allowed, built on it anyway :(
spqrzilla
07-11-2014, 19:12
Discuss this with your insurance agent so you are clear on how your policy handles vacancies.
This.
jerrymrc
07-11-2014, 19:56
I could do 2-3 sat nights over 6 months just for the solitude. [Flower]
Discuss this with your insurance agent so you are clear on how your policy handles vacancies.
Be careful, they may charge you a ton more or drop you if the house is empty. Make sure you shut the water off especially if on well. I had a runaway pump once due to bad pressure switch, it would have been bad if we were not home.
Well, certain stuff, like vandalism, isn't covered if vacant for more than a certain amount of days. It may be as few as 60 days. However, your policy may have a specific definition for "vacancy."
*Pro Tip* Words that are bolded in your insurance policy are listed in the Definitions page, and are specifically defined by your policy. All other words go by the definitions found in the dictionary and are defined in the most broad way to the benefit of the insured (you).
Are you sure you don't want a house sitter, even if it's to check on things about once a week? I found this:
http://www.housecarers.com/ (http://www.housecarers.com/advanced-search-results-housesitters.cfm?co=United)
There are folks that cover Walsenburg. I've never used this service, so I don't know how they are. Otherwise, maybe hiring a security service to stop by occasionally might work?
SamuraiCO
07-14-2014, 10:57
35 acres and can't shoot? That is my big reason for wanting land of my own.
35 acres and can't shoot? That is my big reason for wanting land of my own.
Need 40 in CO.
Full winterization. Shut off the water. Drain and blow down the lines. Shop vac out your toilets tank and bowl. Rv antifreeze all the drains.
This, and I would turn off the power if you can too. I am 50/50 on even leaving the house heated. If you do a full winterization, your risk is much reduced. Water filter canisters in fridge and for tap, remove and drain. Drain the water heater all the way down as well AFTER the gas or electric is off to it. I turn off the water at my house if I am even going away overnight. The vast majority of the cases I work with water damage are from vacated homes, and a good portion of the fires.
Firehaus
07-14-2014, 11:48
Need 40 in
Do you have a source for more info on this? I'm looking for land currently and want to verify. Thanks!
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newracer
07-14-2014, 12:07
Need 40 in CO.
Do you have a source for more info on this? I'm looking for land currently and want to verify. Thanks!
I do not think there is a magical number of acres you need. I believe most counties state that you must prevent the bullets from leaving your property. The other issue, as with the property discussed in this thread, is if there are any covenants preventing shooting.
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PM sent as to not bugger up Richard's thread.
Full winterization. Shut off the water. Drain and blow down the lines. Shop vac out your toilets tank and bowl. Rv antifreeze all the drains. Plastic over them.
Anything less greatly increases the risk of flooding
This is the best way, I've winterized properties for mortgage companies for years. If done properly, and heat left low, chance of damage is next to nothing.
rockhound
07-15-2014, 21:51
Be careful, they may charge you a ton more or drop you if the house is empty. Make sure you shut the water off especially if on well. I had a runaway pump once due to bad pressure switch, it would have been bad if we were not home.
this^^^^
check with your local chamber of commerce and find a reputable handiman to check on the home. better yet call your local realtor (we are not all assholes) find out who does property management in your area. they should have a referral for someone who can watch over it, document when they visited etc.
your insurance company will not want the house vacant.....
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