A second home, or any home for that matter, which is left unoccupied for more than several days at a time is at risk should one or more of the home systems, i.e., electrical, plumbing or heating, fail during your absence. A simple power failure during freezing weather or lightning strike could lead to thousands of dollars in loss.
One of the more helpful and valuable exchanges that can occur between the Buyer and Seller of a house is information about earlier failures and how to prevent them. A discussion of any systems that are on "automatic pilot" mode, or need to be actuated or shut off prior to leaving the house for a protracted period of time, is helpful. Regardless, here's a brief check list of items to think about before leaving:
(1) Turn off the water
Summer or winter, when leaving the house for a week or more, turn off the power to a well pump at the water meter or the main valve to the house. For city water, or shared water systems, turn off the main valve;
(2) Cooling
During the summer, make sure the HVAC system is set at approx. 78°F. This will ensure the air is properly circulating & conditioned. This is important especially in areas with high humidity levels. Over an extended period of time, unconditioned air, especially in areas of high humidity, may accelerate mold or mildew problems;
(3) Fuels
Turn off gas or oil service at the shut-off valves;
(4) Monitoring the house
The home should be monitored both for physical condition and possible intrusion by strangers. A trusted neighbor is invaluable for keeping an eye on things while you are gone. In some areas, you can hire a service company to check on your home for a modest fee. During extremely cold or stormy weather, the house should be checked more frequently;
(5) Security
A low temperature sensor attached to an alarm system is advised;
(6) Heating
During the winter, keep a minimum heat level in the home, especially a home with a basement or deep foundation. This will avoid structural foundation damage caused by frost and freezing of the soil;
(7) Hot water heating system
Add antifreeze to the heating system if you heat with hot water (NOT with steam);
(8) Winter absence
If the house will be unheated throughout most of the winter, proper draining and flushing of systems are necessary. Hire an expert to winterize the house;
(9) Freezing pipes
If water is present in the pipes, leave the cabinet doors open below the sinks. IMPORTANT: Merely wrapping pipes with insulating material will NOT prevent freezing; it only slows the process. Insulating between pipe and outside wall is recommended, but heat from the interior must be able to get to the pipe to keep it warm;
(10) Reminders
Provide reminders throughout the home for visitors during showings to return all systems to their original settings (i.e.: thermostats, clocks, light switches, etc.).