How do I close up a shore house for the winter?
Updated October 18, 2026 · Fantazzia Co, Margate City, NJ
Short answer
Keep the heat on at 65°F or higher, shut off and drain all the outside water, drain the toilets, close up the crawl space, and have someone check the house while you're gone. That's what part-time owners in Ventnor, Margate and Longport have been urged to do, and the American Red Cross adds a few more steps below.
Why it matters
Last February, Ventnor took about 130 calls for broken pipes in less than a week, and many of the breaks were in empty vacation homes, 6abc reported. Downbeach News has reported that public employees are the first called when neighbors notice water seeping out a front door, often on the coldest nights of the winter.
Outside
- Shut off the outside water. Close the inside valves that feed the outdoor hose bibs, then open the bibs outside so they drain, and leave them open.
- Shut off and drain the outdoor shower.
- Disconnect the hoses, drain them and put them away.
- Drain pool and sprinkler supply lines the way the manufacturer or installer says to. Don't put antifreeze in them unless they tell you to.
- Board up the crawl space and seal the louver vents.
Inside
- Leave the heat on, at 65°F or higher.
- Drain the toilets.
- Open the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Insulate pipes in unheated spots like the garage, the crawl space and under cabinets. Pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape are two options.
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
Before you lock the door
- Know where the main water shutoff is, and make sure someone local can get to it. Last February, Ventnor public works crews had to chop through ice to reach shutoff valves.
- Read your homeowner policy. Many only cover frozen-pipe damage if the heat was kept on or the water was shut off and drained.
- Leave a key with someone local who will actually go inside.
- Set up checks. Officials tell part-time owners to check on the house during extreme weather, or to arrange for someone else to.
Sources
Closing up this month?
Fantazzia Co checks shore homes every week all winter, inside and out, and sends you photos after every visit. If something breaks, our own crew handles it.