You leave the Hamptons after Labor Day. You lock the doors. You breathe easy.
And then winter happens with a frozen pipe bursting and a water heater leak and all of a sudden the house sits full of cold, salty air and no one sees it for months.
That’s the reality for part time Hamptons homeowners. Because small mistakes now become huge, expensive problems later.
So below are some no fluff real plumbing tips that you can do this weekend or hand off to your local pro.
Don’t Skip This: Shut The Water Off Right
If you do one thing before you head out then it should be this thing and that is to shut off the main water and drain the system.
Yep it is the fastest way to stop a minor drip from turning into a flooded basement.
Here Are Some Quick Steps:
- Find the main shut off and turn it off.
- Open all faucets top to bottom until they stop.
- Flush toilets and add a little bit of non toxic RV/boat antifreeze in bowls if you use antifreeze.
- Turn off and drain irrigation systems separately.
And if all of this sounds like more than you want to manage then Book Today with Paradise Plumbing as they can handle full shutdowns and winterization and get your home well secured.
Pipes Freeze When You Least Expect Them Don’t Be That Homeowner
Pipes freeze in attics, garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls and other places you rarely check.
Because when water freezes it expands and that creates a crack that only shows up when the thaw begins.
And if you are thinking about repairing that? Well that is going to be really expensive and messy. And if you were careful before you could have avoided that totally.
So Here Are The Best Actions You Can Do:
- You can be sure to insulate any exposed pipes with comfy foam sleeves.
- Opening those cabinet doors under the sinks so warm air can circulate properly.
- Keep the exterior faucets drained and disconnected.
- Let a small trickle run on faucets served by exposed pipes during extreme cold if the heat is off.
Authoritative sources like the Red Cross list the same basics for a reason because insulating pipes and draining outdoor lines are proven preventives.
Appliances Hold Water So Don’t Forget Them
Yeah you can shut the main line but the water is still going to hide inside appliances and tanks. And that is where a lot of damage starts to begin with.
So Make Sure To Handle These:
- Water Heater: Make sure to drain it fully or follow the manufacturer’s winterization steps.
- Washing Machine: Always disconnect hoses and store them inside.
- Dishwasher: Run the empty rinse and then disconnect the water lines if you will be away for a long time.
- Coffee Makers and Icemakers: Always should be empty and unplugged.
I know this part is easy but man it really often gets overlooked. It’s also why some folks hire pros for a full vacation home service where they can worry less from miles away.
Heat Saves Money But Don’t Cut It off
People debate keeping the heat on. And here is the no BS answer and that is to set the thermostat to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes it costs a bit in fuel or electricity but it prevents freezing in the structure and pipes which can save you thousands of dollars.
And if you want to cut those costs even further then make sure to insulate properly and use zoned heat if your system supports it.
Checklist That Actually Works: Use This Before You Leave
Do these in order. It takes an hour or two but saves you a nightmare later.
- Turn off the main water and always drain all taps.
- Flush toilets and add non toxic antifreeze if you use it.
- Drain and turn off the water heater.
- Disconnect and drain the washer hoses and run a final dishwasher rinse.
- Insulate exposed pipes and close up crawlspace vents if recommended.
- Blow out any irrigation lines or schedule a winterization of irrigation.
- Check the sump pump and make sure to test it and consider a battery backup.
- Set the thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and leave a trusted local contact on the speed dial.
For a related seasonal checklist tailored to Long Island homes Paradise Plumbing’s seasonal checklist is worth a look.
Insurance And Costs Quick Reality Check
Burst pipes can cost tens of thousands when walls, floors and contents get soaked.
And you know what maybe your insurance can help but many policies have clauses about unattended properties and a lack of winterization.
So if a claim investigator finds you didn’t winterize then oh boy you can be denied that coverage.
So make sure to pay for a pro or follow the checklist because it is a cheap prevention cost vs all those replacement bills.
And Paradise Plumbing’s blog on hidden plumbing issues is gonna give you even more examples of common failures and what they cost when left unattended.
Myths I Still Hear: Here’s Why They Are Absolutely Wrong
Ah yes we all hate rumors and nothing in this world is free from them but don’t I am here to clear all the facts from fiction.
- Plastic pipes don’t burst. Yes they can because PEX and PVC can still crack if stressed by ice.
- I’ll just turn the heat off to save money. Bad move because heat prevents freezing and structural damage.
- If a pipe bursts I’ll notice immediately. No you won’t because a pipe can leak slowly behind drywall for months.
So please don’t listen to these myths and make sure to follow the checks above.
A Quick Testing Routine: Do This Before You Leave
When It Is Finally The Time To Leave:
- Make sure to take a walk on every level and check under sinks, basements and garages just to be safe and sure.
- Make sure to run faucets and make sure those drains are absolutely clear.
- Trigger the sump pump and pour a bucket of water in.
- Take photos of the mechanical room and note readings like the thermostat and water heater because these photos help if there’s a problem later.
And then finally lock up and go have some fun.
Final Word: Be Ruthless About Prevention
Part time living is awesome until something goes wrong and all the plumbing problems that I have described here are very predictable and they are also preventable with a little planning or a local pro’s help.
And speaking of pros if you want to make things much easier as life is so busy nowadays then Paradise Plumbing can do all the seasonal closing services for Hamptons homes with proper shutoffs, winterization, irrigation blowouts and inspection reports.
So come on and Schedule a closing service now.
