Leaving a home vacant during an extended period of extreme cold in Canada poses unique challenges and potential risks that demand careful consideration from homeowners to ensure their property remains safe from potential damage that leads to costly repairs and increased energy bills. Have you wonder at what temperature to leave your vacant house in winter?
One of the paramount concerns for homeowners is maintaining an ideal indoor temperature to prevent freezing pipes while they're away for a few weeks on vacation. Join us as the team from Francis Home Environment explores the importance of winterizing your empty house during the harsh Canadian winter weather. For more information, keep reading!
The Ideal Temperature for Your Vacant House
As we mentioned, setting the right temperature indoors for your empty house in Canada during winter is essential. Generally speaking, the ideal temperature range typically falls between 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, striking a balance between energy consumption and preventing freezing pipes.
With that being said, there are certain factors that will ultimately influence what you set your thermostat to when you’re away on vacation for an extended period during the winter. Let’s take a closer look at these factors in more detail below:
Influence of climate
The local climate in your area plays a big role when setting your thermostat. For example, colder areas need a little bit of a higher temperature to keep the extreme cold from damaging the vacant house, compared to areas that experience mild winter temperatures.
Impact of your house insulation
The amount of insulation in a house will also affect what temperature is required. A vacant house that is well-insulated, has good sealing, and has energy efficient windows can typically turn the thermostat on to the lower end of the recommended range compared to houses with poor quality insulation and drafts throughout.
Consequences of low and high thermostat temperature settings
Too low of a temperature can cause frozen pipes throughout your water supply, which may crack and cause costly repairs. In contrast, consequences of high temperatures include excessive energy consumption from maintaining a temperature that is above what is necessary, which drives up energy bills without providing any advantages to your living space while you're on vacation.
Ultimately, homeowners will want to prepare their homes while they're away, regardless of how long they anticipate being on vacation. The best thing you can do to prepare is reach out to a professional HVAC and plumbing company in your area, like the team from Francis Home Environment. Our team can conduct an inspection of your home and provide customized tips and solutions on how you can winterize your property for the winter.
Prepare Your Vacant Home for Winter
It's important to get your empty house ready for winter in order to prevent damage and make certain that matters go smoothly when you get back. Here is a closer look at what you can do to prepare:
Insulate pipes
- Use foam pipe insulation or heating tape on exposed pipes outdoors to prevent burst pipes.
- Pay should also pay attention to pipes in unheated areas of your home, like the basement or crawl spaces, and ensure they are well-insulated as well.
- To prevent frozen pipes, disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and shut off your water supply entirely.
Seal drafts
- Check for any gaps and cracks around your windows and doors.
- To fill up gaps, use caulk or weatherstripping.
- Inspect the quality of your insulation in areas like your attic and basement to ensure minimal heat loss and to prevent reduced energy efficiency if you do end up staying in your home for a while.
Heating system maintenance
- Before winter arrives, book a professional maintenance appointment for your heating system.
- Have a technician check that your heating system is in good operating order, clean and inspect it, and replace any filters.
- They can also install a smart thermostat, also known as a programmable thermostat, which allows you to control the indoor temperature of your property while you're away.
Home security
- Notify reliable neighbours of your time away and leave your contact details.
- Put lights on timers to give the impression that the house is occupied.
- Smart home security systems can be a worthwhile investment if you want to control and monitor your property from a smart device while you're away.
Winterize Your Home with Francis Home Environment Today!
At Francis Home Environment, indoor comfort is what we do best. Whether you require heating system repairs, maintenance, or the installation of a new unit, you can count on our certified HVAC technicians to get the job done right. Further, our professional plumbing is also available for repairs, maintenance, and installations to ensure your home’s water supply remains intact during periods of extreme cold.
Francis Home Environment puts the needs of our customers first, which is why we are available for repair and maintenance services 24/7/365 days a year, including after-hours, weekends, and holidays, at no extra cost. Same-day repairs are also available in emergency situations.
Moreover, if you're in the market for a new heating system, our home comfort advisors can walk you through the process of choosing the right unit for your needs and budget. They'll also give you more information on how you can save on your purchase with our current discounts and financing options. Homeowners are also entitled to a complimentary new system purchase quote when they purchase a new HVAC system for their home.
We proudly operate throughout Ottawa, Arnprior, Carleton Place, Cumberland, Embrun, Kemptville, Almonte, Bishop Mills, Casselman, Kanata, Manotick, Orleans, Rockland, and the surrounding neighbourhoods. If you live in any one of these communities, book your appointment today!
You can reach us over the phone or book your appointment with us online using our booking form. Keep your vacant home safe from unexpected winter disasters with the help of Francis Home Environment!
