How do you winterize your single family rental house?

[Phung N.]

I'm renting out a single family house.  Personally I have never own a house.  I love to hear your advices on maintenance and how to winterize your rental home.  How often do you schedule regular inspection/maintenance?  I already have a plan in mind to change the filter every 3 months.  

[Marcia Maynard]

Originally posted by @Phung N.:

I'm renting out a single family house.  Personally I have never own a house.  I love to hear your advices on maintenance and how to winterize your rental home.  How often do you schedule regular inspection/maintenance?  I already have a plan in mind to change the filter every 3 months.  

Are you the owner of the property? As the owner, you should see to it that you do periodic maintenance inspections year round. If the property is new to you, then it would be a good idea to complete a full home inspection, preferably performed by a professional Home Inspector. Their report will outline deficiencies that you can prioritize and address.

Winterizing requirements will vary depending on the location of the property and the climate. Also, it makes a difference if the unit is occupied or vacant. You can find many good checklists on the internet for what to do to prepare for winter. Find one the matches the needs of your climate. Budget time, money and labor to get the job done.

Best place to start is with the building "envelope", the exterior. Make sure it is sealed properly to prevent water intrusion. Make sure there are no gaps that could let cold air in, but be sure to have proper ventilation to achieve necessary air flow. Take down summer screens and put up winter storm windows, if you have them. Make sure there is adequate insulation in the attic, walls, and below. In some locations it is best not to cover crawl space vents, especially if radon is a potential concern.

Check for proper drainage, including cleaning out your gutters and downspouts. Check your roof for any damage after each storm.  Make sure the ground is sloped away from the building foundation and that there are no areas that will collect standing water.

Prepare the plumbing system for winter by making sure there is insulation around pipes located in unheated areas, such as in the crawl space, basement, or garage. If you are in a cold climate, disconnect outside hoses and store them for the winter, cover the outside water spigots, and inform tenants not to use these during the winter.

Tune up the heating system, including changing furnace filters and checking the operation of the thermostat. If you have duct work, make sure the ducts are clean and the air registers are not blocked. Vacuum the dust off exposed heating elements of electric heaters. If your heating ducts are located in unheated areas, insulate them.