Vacant Homes in Winter Can Lead to Costly Repairs

Posted: December 28, 2015

Vacant home in the winter

Posted: December 28, 2015
Posted by: David O’Connell, President of Wilson Oil and Propane

Many of our customers like to escape snow and ice by heading south for the winter.

Unlike summer, if you plan to leave your home vacant for an extended period in the wintertime, taking care of your empty home requires special considerations, such as making sure you have adequate heating. This can prevent a catastrophe such as frozen pipes.

Whether you use heating oil or propane to heat your home, we offer automatic delivery, and we don’t charge extra for it because it prevents run-outs and emergency deliveries. Making sure you have plenty of fuel to heat your home while you’re away is smart planning. Let us take care of your fuel needs while you spend the winter months in a warmer climate. Read more about this convenient service here and sign up here for heating oil or here for propane.

Another special consideration is making sure someone shovels or plows your driveway. This will help your house have a lived-in look; plus, it will allow us to make fuel deliveries to your home.

Here are other tips to keep your home safe and sound until you return:

Stop your mail, newspaper service, and all deliveries from coming while you’re gone.
Lock your doors and windows both upstairs and downstairs. Add extra locks if needed.
Activate your security alarm if you have one.
Leave your blinds and curtains in their usual positions. Make sure valuables are out of sight.
Use home security apps that allow you to control things in your home such as your water, lights, and appliances.
Keep your vacation plans off social media until you return home. It’s estimated that nearly 80 percent of burglars now use Facebook and Twitter to target their next break-in.
Have a trusted neighbor or friend keep watch while you’re away to check that your heat is on, pick up your mail, move your car in the driveway, turn the lights on and off, and adjust the blinds. Keep things as if you were there.