Short answer: Before you leave for more than a night or two this winter, keep the heat on (many insurers suggest at least 55°F), shut off the main water valve or at least the washer and fridge lines, open cabinet doors on outside walls, and set up a leak and temperature alert so your phone tells you if something goes wrong while you're away.
Holiday travel and winter getaways are when small water problems turn into big ones. A slow drip or a frozen pipe that you'd catch in an hour at home can run for days in an empty house. The good news: most of the risk comes down to a handful of steps you can do in about 30 minutes.
1. Set the thermostat, don't switch it off
Turning the heat way down saves a little money, but it leaves pipes in outside walls, crawlspaces, and unheated garages exposed. Many insurers suggest keeping the heat at least 55°F while you're gone, and some homeowners go a few degrees higher during a cold snap. A few extra tips:
- Put fresh batteries in the thermostat if it uses them. A dead thermostat means no heat.
- If you have a smart thermostat, make sure it's online and that you can see it from your phone.
- Check your furnace filter before you go. A badly clogged filter makes the system work harder. Depending on the filter type and whether you have pets, most need changing every 1-6 months.
2. Shut off the water (or at least the risky lines)
The single most effective step is closing the main water shutoff. If water can't flow in, a burst pipe or failed hose can only leak what's already in the lines. Find your main valve before travel day—it's often in the basement, a utility closet, a crawlspace, or near the water heater.
If you'd rather leave the main on (for example, if you have a fire sprinkler system or someone is checking on the house), close these individual valves instead:
- Washing machine hot and cold supply valves
- Refrigerator ice maker or water line
- Toilet supply valves in bathrooms you won't need
If your water heater is gas, many manufacturers offer a "vacation" setting. Check your owner's manual before changing anything on it.
3. Protect pipes on outside walls
- Open sink cabinet doors on exterior walls so warm room air can reach the pipes.
- Disconnect garden hoses and close the indoor shutoff for outdoor faucets if you have one.
- Close garage doors, and seal obvious drafts near pipes with foam or pipe insulation.
For a deeper look, see how to keep pipes from freezing (and what to do if they do).
4. Set up alerts so you're not guessing
The hard part about being away is that you can't see what's happening. A few Wi-Fi sensors fix that. Place leak sensors where water problems usually start: under the water heater, behind the washer, under the kitchen sink, near the sump pump, and under any upstairs bathroom sink. Many sensors also send a low-temperature alert, which can warn you that the heat stopped before pipes are at real risk.
Our Leak & Freeze Alert Starter Kit covers the three most common spots and sends both leak and freeze alerts to your phone. A Wi-Fi Temperature & Humidity Sensor is also handy in a basement or crawlspace so you can check conditions from anywhere.
Before you leave, test each sensor once (a damp paper towel works) and confirm the alert reaches your phone—and a backup person if you can add one.
5. Handle the outside of the house
- Gutters: Clear leaves so melting snow drains away instead of backing up at the roof edge.
- Downspouts: Make sure they empty several feet from the foundation. A low-profile extension can help where space is tight.
- Sump pump: If you have one, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it kicks on.
6. Ask someone to check in
If you'll be gone more than a few days, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to stop by, or at least be on call if an alert goes off. Leave them your shutoff valve location and a short note on what to do. Some insurance policies have rules about how long a home can sit unchecked in winter, so it's worth a quick look at yours.
Quick pre-departure checklist
- Thermostat set (at least 55°F is common advice), batteries fresh
- Main water shut off, or washer, fridge and toilet valves closed
- Cabinet doors open on outside walls
- Hoses disconnected, garage closed
- Leak and temperature sensors tested, alerts confirmed
- Gutters clear, downspouts extended, sump pump tested
- Someone knows how to get in and where the shutoff is
Want a printable version that also covers humidity? Grab our free home humidity checklist.
If you come home to a problem
If you find water, shut off the main valve first and turn off power to any wet area only if you can do so safely without standing in water. For burst pipes, water inside walls or ceilings, electrical concerns, or standing water that won't go away, call a qualified professional. Take photos before you clean up in case you need them for an insurance claim.