5 Tips on How to Prepare Your Condo for Winter

Homeowners often get a lot of reminders on how to winterize their homes. Condo owners tend to be forgotten, even though they also need to get their units ready for the cold.

There are a lot of benefits to living in a condominium, but there are also responsibilities that owners have to meet before they can leave their condos and head off somewhere for the season or for the holidays.

Here are some tips on how you can prepare your condo for winter:

• Turn Water Off at the Main Water Valves: Winter temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst in the home, resulting in water damage. Before leaving for winter, drain toilets of water and make sure the faucets are open to prevent buildup of pressure. Make sure to shut off the main water valve to prevent leaks and reduce incidents of damage that can lead to expensive repairs.

 

• Keep Air Circulating to Prevent Molds: Open all cabinet doors in the bathroom and kitchen to allow for warmer air to circulate around the pipes. Aside from preventing pipes to freeze, the air movement and ventilation will also remove moisture and prevent molds and mildew from developing.

 

• Unplug All Appliances: Some might find unplugging all the appliances in their home to be inconvenient. However, this action can save your whole electrical system in case your city is hit with severe weather while you're away for winter.

Don't forget to turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker. You should also defrost and clean out your refrigerator. Leave the refrigerator doors open and remove the water filter to stop mildew from forming.

• Check Your Policy: Make sure that your owner's insurance policy is still in effect and that it meets basic jurisdictional guidelines. It's also good if you can secure coverage for improvements and have a clause for loss of use.

 

• Inform the Property Management Office of Your Building: You might be required to fill out a form with the Property Management office regarding critical information like the dates you'll be away, where you can be reached, and the names and contact details of people authorized to enter your unit and handle any problems while you're gone.

There's no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to minimizing the risk of winter damage to your unit. Have a checklist of everything that needs to be done and leave the pertinent information with your building's Property Management department. This will go a long way in safeguarding your condo.  

At Insurance Services of Washington , we aim to make our client's life easier with policies that are tailored to their needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (425) 686-1123. Get you quote today by CLICKING HERE.