winterizing unused apartment

wiggs

What should be done with water heaters,toilets ect. when a house won't be used during the winter?Will it damage the water heater being drained for three or four monthgs?The house is on the eastern shore of Md. where it's cold for about three months.Any help would be appreciated greatly.

Pipes

All your water lines should be blown out with an air compressor, the water heater should be drained completely and all traps including the toilets should have anti freeze put in them. Non toxic anti freeze only , like the kind you get from an RV center.

That one Guy

Yeah that sounds great but If this is an apartment he may not have any isolation valves to shut off his apt. water only. He says apartment then house, maybe its a condo? What is it Wiggs?

I have already started getting alot of frozen pipe calls and it keeps all 9 of us super busy for a while.

Mike Swearingen

Whether it's a condo or house, wiggs should have at least a separate water meter that can be turned off or more likely a main water supply shut-off valve. Then you can follow the winterizing suggestions.
If it's an apartment without a seprate water supply isolation valve, he will have to leave the heat on at least 50.
Turn the power or gas off to the water heater before draining. Fill it completely back up before restoring power or gas.
After turning off water main, open all faucets and valves for air for draining, especially the highest and lowest, and then blow the lines out.
Open the T&P valve on the water heater, too. Most hot water will drain back through the heater.
Flush all toilets, and use only RV-type anti-freeze, as suggested.
Good luck!
Mike