Closing the holiday home for winter: the checklist that avoids damp and frost damage

When the season ends, most holiday homes by the coast sit empty for most of the winter. A house closed down properly takes no harm and stands fresh in spring. A house closed down wrong can greet you with burst pipes, damp and a heavy, stuffy smell. Here is what we check ourselves.

Water and frost first

The most important thing is the water. Frost freezing in the pipes can burst them and cause major water damage. Turn off the water at the mains and drain the pipes, water heater, toilet and traps. Many add a little antifreeze to the traps so they do not dry out and let sewer smell in. If the house is not frost-proof, leave a little background heat on.

Keep the damp down

Damp is the holiday home's biggest enemy in winter. Air the house thoroughly before closing it, and make sure everything is completely dry. Leave cupboard doors and the fridge ajar so air can circulate. Draw the curtains back so condensation does not form behind them. A dehumidifier or a little background heat keeps the rooms dry and prevents mould.

Kitchen and bathroom

Empty the fridge and freezer, wipe them out and leave them open. Throw out anything perishable, and take opened food home, otherwise it attracts mice. Clean the extractor hood and the drains. Dry the bathroom completely so no moisture is left behind.

What many forget

Take bedding and towels home or pack them away dry so they do not soak up damp. Empty the bins. Check that windows and doors close tightly. Remove any food that could tempt mice and martens in. And arrange for someone local to look in a few times over the winter, especially after storm and frost.

That last point is something we help many holiday-home owners with. If you live far away, we can close the house down in autumn, keep an eye on it through winter and get it ready again in spring. Then you know the house is fine, even when you are not there.

See also: our holiday home cleaning in Hvide Sande and Søndervig.