Winterizing a Vacant Home's Plumbing:
A Step-by-Step Guide

A frozen and burst pipe in an occupied home is bad enough — in a vacant home, it can run undetected for days or weeks, causing severe water damage before anyone notices. If a property will sit empty over the winter, here's the proper way to winterize the plumbing.

Step-by-Step Winterization

1. Shut off the main water supply to the house completely.
2. Drain the plumbing system by opening all faucets (starting with the highest point in the house and working down) to let water drain out, then opening drain valves on the water heater and lowest points in the system.
3. Add non-toxic RV antifreeze to drain traps (sinks, tubs, toilets) to prevent any remaining water in the P-traps from freezing and cracking pipes.
4. Turn off and drain the water heater if it will also sit unused, following manufacturer guidance for your specific unit.
5. Disconnect and drain any exterior hoses and shut off exterior hose bibs.
6. Consider leaving minimal heat on (if the home has power) rather than relying solely on draining, as a backup layer of protection — though a properly drained system shouldn't need it.

Why Professional Winterization Is Worth Considering

A partially winterized system (one that misses an appliance line, a hose bib, or doesn't fully drain a section) can still fail. Given that the entire point is preventing damage that could run undetected for weeks, having a professional handle it — with a documented checklist and follow-up de-winterization when the home is reoccupied — removes the guesswork.

Frequently Asked Questions