Top Ten tips for shutting up homes over winter

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 22:35

Can the ones that have already been through a winter in NC let us newbies have a list of things to do to avoid problems when shutting up our homes for the winter.



What wisdom or knowledge do you wish someone had passed onto you that first winter etc.

Sheila

Vidal


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 867

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 22:45

Dont pull the blackout curtains, Just the voiles. Then the house heats and cools naturally with the sun.

We didnt know, closed ours and came back to white fluffy walls and the plaster falling off.





Nice.

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:06

Wow sounds like that will be at the top of the list. Thank you

Sheila

jesusjon



Joined: 03/08/2008
Posts: 93

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:06

Hi Shiela,

Cling film over all toilets to stop water evaporation and smells will then follow as no water to keep air lock.

John.

Aslan


Joined: 23/06/2008
Posts: 757

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:08

1.Take your fuse out from the meter

2.Turn water off at the mains

3.Write down your meter readings when you leave

4.Take photos of all items of value in the house

5.Change the locks if you have given keys to labourers in the past

6.Moth balls in linen cupboards

7.Tell a trusted neighbour that you will be away

8.Flush out your water cooler dispenser

9.Make sure all bills are paid and you have enough credit

10."don't forget your passports"

Vidal


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 867

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:10

...but dont forget its on there when you rush in busting for a wee after your flight back eh!

kevnmax


Joined: 05/08/2008
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:26

Mothballs in plugholes , stops cockroaches coming in

Isabella


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
11/08/2009 23:44

So nice to have some useful information on this forum.

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 00:21

What about foodstuffs, linens, bedding?

ToShakeYrLa2


Joined: 04/03/2009
Posts: 26

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 05:14

Msg 9



All of the above plus...



Good old fashioned tupperware boxes or jars with proper lids for all dry goods, anything else goes to neighbours to finish.



All bedding in the PacMate Jumbo size plastic bags that you suck the air out with a vacuum. The biggest size will hold a double duvet, 4 pillows and sheets. We have one of the largest size for each room for bedding and additional one for all towels.



Ventilation to prevent damp



Ant spray along the threshold of doors and windows.



Don't leave anything you cant afford to lose.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 08:19

If you are turning of your electricity then do not forget to leave your fridge/freezer doors open.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 08:35

Drain your water tanks, it may go stagnant if you leave it all winter.



Drain all radiators and internal water system, protect against frost damage.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 08:38

Leave keys with a neighbour or pay someone to go in and air your villa on a regular basis. And to check for leaks after we have rain.

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 10:03

Just to be different re a couple of comments, here is our experience.



The first year we had our place aired regularly by our MC. The following spring some of our clothing/bedding stuff in the apartment had gone funny, (mildewey) also some metallic items had a funny tarnish to them, almost like white powdery rust. Since then, when we leave now we just leave it closed up and have had no problems at all, so my view is don't bother airing it.



I think airing your property does more harm than good and the reason i think so is because.... when your keyholder comes along and opens it up, although it allows fresh air in, because of the humidity in the air at times (and damp in winter) when (IF!!) they come back at the end of the day they are shutting in damp and humid air!!!! much better in my view just to shut it up and leave it shut to keep damp out and maintain a stable atmosphere inside. The above of course only applies if you do not have any existing damp problems.

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 10:13

message 2, The danger with leaving blackouts open to allow the sun in is that the sun can bleach fabrics/furnishings. We now close our blackouts and coupled with leaving our place closed up it all helps towards keeping a lower and more constant temperature throughout the day as it keeps the sun out. PLUS it means that potential burglers can't see inside to see if there's owt worth nicking i.e Plasma TV's etc.



Leave wardrobe doors open. As someone said, put mothballs in them, we put the mothballs in those little net washing powder bags and hang from the clothes rails.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 10:30

Hippo,



Is your tip about draining down against frost damage aimed at people living on the top of the Troodos mountains?

I have never known a hard frost (or even a soft one) in TRNC...

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 11:10

Hippo ............ why I you worried about stagnant water I thought Hippo's loved walling in their own shite !

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 12:59

buy some cheap dehumidifiers from pound shop and install them in wardrobes etc

leave cupboards and drawers open and if you have security bars leave a window open for air flow

you can always lock inner doors as well if worried about this.



best of all have some one you trust come and give it an airing now and again

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 13:31

msg 18, as a rule it's unwise to lock internal doors if the house is empty. If an intruder breaches your perimeter security, the inner doors won't deter. You will just have another bill for damaged locks/doors.

I close the shutters and leave all internal doors wide open. I leave one window in each room open so the air can circulate.

A good friend comes in to water plants and keep an eye on things for me.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 15:15

Come on Vaughn !!!



And if that's a pathetic attempt at humour Sienna or clear antagonistic statement -try harder next time.

You are just a child in arms.

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 16:24

Oh dear grumpy Hippo lost his sense of humour!

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 20:14

when you lock up dont forget to put the cat out

rocky


Joined: 17/10/2007
Posts: 1749

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 21:14

whoops I forgot in NC I hsould have said the dog as well

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
12/08/2009 21:29

Our neighbour had a very kindly other neighbour (if you see what I mean) who used to air her apartment once a week. Unfortunately, after one of the 'airings' she came back and duly locked up, not realising that pigeons had decided to build their nest in one of the bedrooms, having flown in through the window.



The mess wasn't nice

baxi7


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 130

Message Posted:
13/08/2009 12:53

leave fridge / freezer doors open , empty of course .

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
13/08/2009 13:53

nah you'll be fine its greeeeeeeeeeat despite it all

mint1955



Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 988

Message Posted:
14/08/2009 01:01

Well you certainly have given me something to think about!

Sheila

ceg123


Joined: 20/04/2009
Posts: 405

Message Posted:
14/08/2009 07:16

Or let us look after your property for you!

ceg123@live.co.uk

Look forward to hearing from you

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
14/08/2009 10:38

Drain your roof cold water tank back down into the ground tank. (Turn the pump off, first!!)

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
14/08/2009 10:44

I can go round and check on your property and make sure your house is safe, contact me off board.

jacot


Joined: 18/05/2009
Posts: 19

Message Posted:
14/08/2009 13:32

We must be very lucky. We have left our house for 2 previous winters and other than leaving 'fridge and freezer doors open, nothing was done and we've had no problems whatsoever. However, we have fantastic neighbours who do a weekly 'royal' flush. I am amazed to read some of the advice you have been given.