A Boston homeowner’s guide to avoiding winter disasters

Happy Holidays, the season is upon us! We know there’s a lot to think about before a holiday trip - packing, travel plans, last-minute gifts. But before you even touch that suitcase, we wanted to take a minute to give you a few tips to protect your home from emergencies while you’re away! Around here in Quincy, Boston, and towns like Weymouth, winter brings more than just snow - it brings frozen pipes, damp basements, and the occasional sewer backup that nobody wants to come home to. While right now the weather seems like it’s going back and forth between 60 degrees F and freezing, the unpredictability often creeps up on people. We’ve been called in far too many times for water remediation and flood damage cleanup during the holidays. So here’s what we’d want you to know before you hit the road!

Before You Go: The Truth About Cold Weather and Burst Pipes

Pipes don’t care that you're heading to Florida. If the temperatures dip - and they will - any exposed or poorly insulated pipe in your basement, garage, or crawlspace could freeze and burst. That’s more than just a plumbing bill. It’s water damage repair. It’s lost flooring, damaged drywall, and mold you’ll be fighting for months.

One of the smartest things you can do? Leave your heat on - at least 55°F. That tip comes straight from the American Red Cross, and they know a thing or two about disaster prevention.

And if you’re heading out of town for more of an extended vacation, we’d recommend you think about shutting off your main water valve and draining the water system. Less water in the system = less chance of waking up to a swimming pool where your living room used to be. State Farm paid out more than 17,200 claims in 2023 with the average cost being over $23,500 for repairing damage caused by a frozen pipe! Let’s help you not be a part of that statistic this holiday season!

Fire Hazards Don’t Take a Holiday

It’s wild how many house fires start while folks are out of town. A space heater left too close to the couch. A faulty string of lights plugged in for a week straight. A dried out Christmas Tree.

According to FEMA almost half of house fires happen in the Winter months, largely contributed to by the increase of candles, holiday decorations, and other flammable items in the home. According to FEMA about 156,000 fires in the United States occur during the winter holiday season, claiming nearly 630 lives. These fires also caused $936 million in property damage. Before you leave for your holiday, unplug anything that doesn’t need to be on, like your coffee maker, printer, and Christmas lights. If you are out of town for most of the holiday season anyways, consider an artificial tree - These are far less combustible than their live counterparts! Keep an eye on your kids too, as the statistic of fires being caused by children playing ALSO increases around the holidays. And for the love of your home, check those smoke detectors!

Check your Basement

You might not think about it, but basements around here - especially in older Boston homes - have a humidity problem. When no one's around to keep an eye on things, swings in the weird winter weather can lead to moisture building up fast. And according to the EPA, mold can start growing in just 24 to 48 hours after a water event. If you already run a dehumidifier, make sure to keep it running while you’re gone. And make sure to check your sump pump is working if you have one - especially if you’ve had any flooding in the past.

Our Quick 10 minute Checklist for your house:

1. Walk your gutters – If they’re clogged, melting snow or rain could back up and leak into the house.
2. Leave a faucet dripping – Just a tiny trickle can help prevent pressure buildup that leads to burst pipes. (Or turn off the water and drain the system entirely, depending on the length of your trip)
3. Let someone know you’re going out of town – Whether it’s a neighbor, family member, or property manager, having someone check in while you're away can make the difference between a flooded room and a flooded floor of your home!
4. Set your thermostat to at least 62-64°F to keep pipes from freezing while you're gone, and particularly on the higher end if you have pets that are staying home while you're gone! Having a neighbor check in on your home can also be a fantastic way to help protect your home and catch issues early - They can make sure the heat is working and that there are no burst pipes, make sure pets are doing well, and possibly water your plants as well!
5. Unplug non-essential electronics to reduce fire risk and save energy.
6. Inspect sump pumps and keep your dehumidifier on.
7. Secure all windows and doors and make sure weather stripping is intact. Letting cold air into your home while you’re gone can contribute to pipes freezing.

If something goes wrong while you're out of town - flood, sewage backup, mold - you need someone local who can show up fast. We handle flood damage cleanup, water damage restoration, and emergency water remediation all across Quincy, Weymouth, and the greater Boston area. We're not a chain. We're local, and we’re available 24/7. Happy Holidays!!!