Winter Prep 101: Keeping Your Home Cozy & Safe This Season
Keep Your Heat On
One of the most important things you can do during the winter is keep your heat running, even when you're away from home.
If you're leaving for winter break, traveling for the holidays, or simply planning to be away for a few days, never turn your thermostat completely off. Keep your heat set to at least 60°F–65°F while you're away.
When outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, a home without adequate heat can put plumbing at risk. Pipes inside walls, crawl spaces, and other areas can freeze and potentially burst, which may lead to significant water damage.
Keeping your thermostat at a consistent temperature helps protect both your home and its plumbing throughout the colder months.
Help Your Heating System Work Efficiently
Your HVAC system works harder as temperatures drop, so proper airflow is especially important during the winter.
A dirty or clogged HVAC filter can restrict airflow and make your heating system work harder to maintain the temperature in your home. Regular filter changes can help your system operate more efficiently and reduce unnecessary strain.
If your home has a crawl space, make sure the foundation vents around the exterior of the property are fully closed for the winter. Closing these vents helps prevent freezing air from circulating beneath the home and can help protect plumbing located in the crawl space.
If you notice that your heat isn't working properly or your home isn't maintaining temperature, submit a maintenance request through your resident portal.
How to Help Prevent Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the biggest concerns during periods of extremely cold weather. When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands and can cause the pipe to crack or burst.
When temperatures remain below freezing for an extended period, there are a few simple things you can do to help protect your plumbing.
Leave faucets on a slow drip
Allow a small, slow drip of cold water to run from faucets, particularly those located along exterior walls. Keeping water moving through the pipes can help reduce the risk of freezing.
Open cabinet doors
On especially cold nights, open the cabinet doors beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows warmer air from your home to circulate around the plumbing underneath.
These small steps can be especially helpful during the coldest winter nights.
What to Do Before Leaving for Winter Break
If you're heading out of town during the winter months, taking a few minutes to prepare your home before you leave can help prevent problems while you're away.
Before leaving, make sure to:
- Keep your thermostat set to at least 60°F–65°F.
- Check that all windows are completely closed, latched, and locked.
- Lock all exterior doors and deadbolts.
- Close blinds or curtains and keep valuables out of sight.
- Leave exterior lighting on or use a timer, if available.
- Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to collect packages that may arrive while you're gone.
It's also a good idea to take a quick look around your home before leaving.
If you notice a leak, heating issue, or anything else that may require maintenance, report it before you travel rather than waiting until you return.
A Few More Winter Reminders
There are a few additional steps residents can take to prepare their homes for colder weather.
Disconnect garden hoses
If your property has an outdoor spigot, disconnect any garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive. Water trapped inside a connected hose can freeze and potentially damage the spigot or plumbing inside the wall.
Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Winter is heating season, making it a good time to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, if provided at your property, are working properly. Test your detectors and make sure they have working batteries.
Report maintenance issues early
If you notice unusual noises coming from your heating system, your home isn't heating properly, you see signs of a leak, or something doesn't seem right, report the issue as soon as possible.
Addressing smaller maintenance concerns early can help prevent them from becoming larger winter emergencies.
Prepare Now for Colder Weather
Winter weather doesn't have to mean unexpected maintenance problems. Keeping your heat on, protecting your plumbing, preparing your home before traveling, and reporting concerns early can all help keep your rental safe and comfortable throughout the season.
A few small steps before temperatures drop can make a big difference once winter weather arrives.
If you notice a maintenance concern at your property, submit a request through your resident portal so our team can assist.
