Second home: 7 essential checks before closing the shutters for winter
The keys to private stewardship – 5 min reading
Every autumn, thousands of second-home owners close up their homes, hoping to return to them intact in the spring. However, it only takes a few weeks of absence for a discreet leak to become a disaster, for an unexpected frost to crack a pipe or for seepage to spoil months of renovation work.
This is the checklist we systematically apply to our customers – before every closing.
1. Turn off water and drain pipes
It’s the most important gesture – and yet the one most often neglected. In Charente-Maritime and Charente, winters can be mild… until the sudden cold snap in January. A single night at -5°C is enough to burst an unpurified pipe.
- Close the general shut-off valve.
- Open all taps to drain the pipes.
- Bleed the water heater if the house remains unheated.
- Drain outdoor hoses and retract flexible hoses.
Our advice: if your home has an underground automatic sprinkler system, call in a professional to blow it out with compressed air. An oversight on this point can cost several thousand euros.
2. Maintain heating in frost protection mode
Turning off the heating altogether is a common mistake. Keeping the temperature between 7 and 10°C protects your pipes, furniture, parquet and paintwork from winter damp.
- Set your thermostat to frost protection (often symbolized by a snowflake ❄).
- Do not turn off radiators in unoccupied rooms: the air must continue to circulate.
- If your system is old, have the boiler checked before you leave. A breakdown while you’re away can leave the house unprotected for weeks.
3. Secure access
An unoccupied second home is a potential target. Without being alarmist, a few simple precautions are an effective deterrent.
- Check the condition of all locks, windows and roller shutters.
- Activate your alarm and confirm that remote monitoring is operational.
- Inform a trusted neighbor – or your concierge – of your absence and the expected duration.
- Unplug unnecessary electrical appliances to reduce the risk of fire.
Our advice: leave a spare key with someone you trust on site, or opt for a secure key box system. In an emergency, every minute counts.
4. Preparing the garden and pool
A garden left to its own devices over the winter can lead to unpleasant surprises in the spring – and a poorly winterized pool can require costly re-watering.
For the garden :
- Prune shrubs and hedges before the first frost.
- Take fragile plants and terracotta pots inside.
- Store garden furniture or cover it with suitable covers.
- Cut and store garden hoses.
For the pool :
- Proceed with active or passive winterizing, depending on your installation.
- Lower the water level below the discharge nozzles.
- Protect your pond with a suitable winter cover.
- Switch off filtration or switch to winterizing mode according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Check roof and exteriors
The Charente winter, with its Atlantic rains and winds, puts a heavy strain on your home’s envelope. A quick check-up beforehand can avoid many a setback.
- Visually inspect the roof for displaced tiles, accumulated moss or loose flashings.
- Clean the gutters and make sure they drain properly.
- Check the condition of window seals and shutters.
- Check that the air vents are not blocked.
6. Protect the interior from moisture
A house closed for several months without ventilation can develop mold and stubborn odors, particularly in humid regions like the Charente coast.
- Leave cupboards and drawers slightly ajar to allow air to circulate.
- Install moisture absorbers in the most exposed rooms (cellars, bathrooms, laundry rooms).
- Elevate furniture if your home is prone to rising damp.
- Remove sheets and blankets from beds: store them in airtight covers.
7. Regular monitoring
This is often the most overlooked – and most valuable – check. Even with all the precautions in the world, there’s no substitute for a human eye on the spot.
- Plan regular visits (at least twice a month) to aerate, check and detect any emerging problems.
- Make sure your home insurance covers homes unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days – some policies have exclusions on this point.
- Write down the contact details of your trusted local craftsmen so that you can intervene quickly if necessary.
Our advice: this is exactly what we do for our Intendance customers. A visit report after each visit, a photo if necessary, and an immediate alert in the event of an anomaly. Whether you’re in Paris, Bordeaux or abroad, your home is in good hands.
Your closing checklist
✓ Water turned off and pipes purged ✓ Heating in frost-free mode ✓ Access secured, alarm activated ✓ Garden trimmed, pool winterized ✓ Roof and gutters checked ✓ Moisture absorbers in place ✓ Regular surveillance organized.
Would you rather leave it all to a team you can trust? That’s exactly what we do. Discover our Intendance packages or contact us for a free audit of your residence.
