All across the country, there are diverse weather conditions, and different areas have to prepare in different ways. We are discussing how to prepare your rental property for the winter season here in Nashville.
Tenant Education – Frozen Pipes
We send out a letter educating our tenants on how to prevent frozen pipes and alerting them to other issues that can cause problems during the winter season. We ask tenants to close the crawl space doors and the vents to keep the cold air from circulating and freezing pipes. It’s a good idea to leave the heat on, even if they go out of town. Everyone likes to save money by turning off the heat if it’s not in use, but keeping it on a low setting is better. We advise people to cut it back to like 55 degrees. That way, it’s not toasty warm but also not so cold that the pipes might freeze.
Circulating Warm Air
Disconnect your water hoses from the spickets outside and if it gets really cold, like below 15 degrees, we tell tenants to let the faucet drip a little just to keep the water moving. We also advise opening the cupboards beneath the bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks so some warm air can circulate. It’s also a good idea to know where your water shut off is. The tenants need to know this so if there is a problem and the pipes freeze or burst, you can turn the water off.
Better Heating
We require the tenants to change air filters every month, and in the winter we remind them. Keeping those filters clean will ensure the heat can work at maximum efficiency. It will help costs down and ensure the heat is running smoothly. These are just a few ideas for how to prepare your property for the winter season. If you have any questions about this topic or Nashville property management, please contact us at Browning-Gordon Property Management.
