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| Author |
Message |
jp2
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Winterizing a house
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Nov 10 14:40 UTC 2003 |
This item has been erased.
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| 42 responses total. |
happyboy
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response 1 of 42:
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Nov 10 17:42 UTC 2003 |
be sure to leave the windows open exactly
8 inches.
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mynxcat
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response 2 of 42:
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Nov 10 21:40 UTC 2003 |
Bought a house in Northern Ohio, Jamie?
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jp2
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response 3 of 42:
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Nov 10 23:35 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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other
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response 4 of 42:
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Nov 11 01:37 UTC 2003 |
Was she the one in the striped stockings?
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gull
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response 5 of 42:
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Nov 11 03:04 UTC 2003 |
You might want to buy some of the antifreeze they sell at camping stores,
for winterizing RV water systems, and pour it down all the sinks and
toilets. The idea is to displace the water in the traps so it doesn't
freeze and burst the pipes. Don't forget to empty the toilet tanks.
Will the house have any heat at all? If not, you should probably drain the
water heater, too. Also the heating system, if it's hot water heat.
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zerone
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response 6 of 42:
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Nov 11 03:11 UTC 2003 |
Yes, gull is correct on the antifreeze. Also clean the fridge and leave it
open to prevent mildew etc. Turn off gas and the main at the electrical box
unless you intend to leave heat running. .
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slynne
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response 7 of 42:
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Nov 11 03:27 UTC 2003 |
You might want to remove paper products. I know some people who left a
package of toilet paper at their cottage. Mice got into it and made a
mess.
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willcome
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response 8 of 42:
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Nov 11 07:20 UTC 2003 |
Put foam tubing around the pipes.
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michaela
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response 9 of 42:
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Nov 11 09:54 UTC 2003 |
Cover the windows with plastic - the stuff that sticks to the frames, sort
of like cling film for windows. That will help keep drafts out.
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tsty
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response 10 of 42:
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Nov 11 10:31 UTC 2003 |
just how much winterization is needed? o humans w/in 100 feet for ever?
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jp2
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response 11 of 42:
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Nov 11 15:01 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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mynxcat
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response 12 of 42:
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Nov 11 15:32 UTC 2003 |
How's your mother doing these das, btw?
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rcurl
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response 13 of 42:
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Nov 11 18:09 UTC 2003 |
Foam tubing around the pipes does nothing if the pipes are drained, which
they have to be if the house is left all winter without heat. Same for
sealing windows - what good is keeping out minor drafts if the house is
left without heat? Some ventilation is desirable to prevent condensation
and subsequent rot.
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willcome
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response 14 of 42:
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Nov 11 21:17 UTC 2003 |
Yes, of course. That's the point of the foam tubes.
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rcurl
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response 15 of 42:
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Nov 11 22:56 UTC 2003 |
What are the foam tubes supposed to do, then? (I have foam tubes around
my exposed hot-water pipes, but they are to keep the hot water from
losing heat.)
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fitz
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response 16 of 42:
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Nov 12 09:56 UTC 2003 |
#7 Lynne's response about rodent infestation should also remind you to buy
several poison mice traps [Dcon] and put them about the house. There is no
need tohide them unless you have a stupid pet with you. Even then, this can
be one of the very last things you do.
Mice feel safest next to a wall, but if you do nothing you will find that they
were everywhere.
To feel safe about the traps, leave a list of bait locations on the kitchen
table.
Turn off your power at the main. With circuit breakers, the main is obvious.
With a fused circuit box, you yank out bakelite MAIN and RANGE cartrige fuses
and put them back in upside-down.
Write down the meter readings so that you know no one stole power from you.
Make a decision as to whether you will have the utilities disconnected or left
on. A nice chunk of you utility bill is a service fee. You might think it
swell to save the money with a disconnect, but the connection fee and hassle
when you do want power should be considered.
Clean the refrigerator.
Roll up a newspaper section and prop each door of the refrigerator open.
Use other sections of the newspapers as dust covers for shades and curtains.
Remove the bedding. Stow the pillows a blankets in a locker.
As you were already advised to drain pipes and RV anti-freeze the drains, you
must also remove other items that can be damaged by freezing: canned goods,
cleaners, pop.
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fitz
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response 17 of 42:
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Nov 12 10:08 UTC 2003 |
Tape a list of whom to contact in case of emergency or property damage. Do
you have good relations with a neighbor? No one else will care if a tree
falls through your roof or if kids use your house as a love shack. A Numbers
to CAll List might get important information to you faster.
Does your insurance company know that the house will be vancant. An empty
house might be a higher risk and you could need to pay higher premium
(depending on what kind of use the house had before).
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johnnie
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response 18 of 42:
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Nov 12 15:48 UTC 2003 |
Yes--if the insurance company is aware the house is empty, the premiums
will go up significantly, or they may refuse to insure it at all.
If you want to make it less obvious that the house is utterly
unoccupied, it might be prudent to arrange for someone to plow the
driveway/sidewalk when it snows. I would guess that most municipalities
would *require* you to keep the sidewalks cleaned.
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bru
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response 19 of 42:
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Nov 12 16:34 UTC 2003 |
leave the electrical service on and put in several timed lights to make it
look like someone is there from time to time.
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tod
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response 20 of 42:
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Nov 12 18:09 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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willcome
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response 21 of 42:
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Nov 12 20:30 UTC 2003 |
15: They're to prevent the pipes -- not the water not in them -- from
freezing.
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mcnally
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response 22 of 42:
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Nov 12 20:41 UTC 2003 |
Ummm.. The pipes are already solid.
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rcurl
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response 23 of 42:
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Nov 12 20:48 UTC 2003 |
Yes, the pipes are metal or PVC, and won't "freeze" (further). Also, the
foam tubes will not even then keep the pipes warmer. There has to be a
heat source to warm things.
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sno
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response 24 of 42:
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Nov 12 20:54 UTC 2003 |
You absolutely need someone you can trust to go into the house every couple
of weeks or so. One of my supervisors was trying to sell his house when
it was vacant and a racoon found its way in and could not get out. It
died in a wall behind the bathtub and the smell and repair bill were
outrageous.
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