What temperature should I leave my shore house at for the winter?
Updated October 18, 2026 · Fantazzia Co, Margate City, NJ
Short answer
Leave the heat on and set it to at least 65°F. The American Red Cross says no lower than 55°F when you're away in cold weather, but the local advice at the shore is higher. Part-time owners in Ventnor, Margate and Longport have been urged to keep it at 65, and a Ventnor public works supervisor gave the same number during last February's cold snap.
Why 65 and not 55
The thermostat only measures the room it's in. The pipes that freeze are usually somewhere colder: crawl spaces, garages, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and outside walls with little or no insulation. A higher setting helps keep those spots above freezing too.
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. A supervisor at the Ventnor Department of Public Works put it this way:
"Make sure your heat is set at least 65 degrees. I know people don't want to hear that. It's better to pay $500 more on your electric bill than $5,000 for a plumber."
The heat only helps if it stays on
A thermostat setting does nothing if the furnace quits, the power goes out or the tank runs dry. In an empty house, nobody notices until the water is already on the floor.
That's why officials tell part-time owners to check on the house during extreme weather, or to arrange for someone else to. A thermostat that sends you an alert when the temperature drops helps, but someone still has to get there with a key.
Three more things that help
- Open the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Board up the crawl space and seal the louver vents.
- Keep the garage door closed if any water lines run through the garage.
Check your insurance before you leave
Many homeowner policies only cover frozen-pipe damage if the heat was kept on or the water was shut off and drained. Read your own policy before you go.
Sources
Not going to be here all winter?
Fantazzia Co checks shore homes in Margate, Ventnor, Longport and Ocean City every week, with photos after every visit. A weekly visit catches problems while they are still small.