TRUCKEE PLUMBING GUIDE
Closing Up Your Truckee Cabin for Winter: Full Plumbing Checklist
If you’re not in Truckee full time, an unheated house during a hard freeze is the single most common cause of the burst pipe claims we respond to every winter. Here’s the checklist we actually use.
Decide: Shut Down Completely, or Maintain Minimum Heat
There are two real options for a second home over winter. Fully draining and shutting down the water system is the safest option if the home will sit empty for weeks. Maintaining minimum heat, generally 55°F or higher, with the water system left running is an option if you have reliable power and a way to monitor the home remotely, but it carries more risk if the power goes out during a storm.
The Full Shutdown Checklist
- Shut off the main water supply valve
- Open all faucets, including outdoor spigots, to drain remaining water
- Flush toilets to clear tank and bowl, then add RV-safe antifreeze to the bowl and tank
- Drain the water heater completely
- Add plumbing antifreeze to sink and tub P-traps to prevent trap-seal freezing
- Disconnect and drain any exterior hoses
- Set the thermostat to a low maintenance temperature only if you are not fully draining the system
Second Homes and Rentals: Why This Matters More in Truckee
A large share of Truckee properties are second homes or vacation rentals that sit empty for weeks at a time. Combine that with private well systems in some neighborhoods and older, less-insulated plumbing in others, and you have a setup that punishes any owner who treats winterization as optional.
When To Call a Professional Instead of DIY-ing It
If your home has a more complex system, radiant floor heat, a well pump, multiple bathrooms, or you’re simply not confident doing this yourself, it’s worth having a plumber do the full shutdown once. A missed line or trap is exactly the kind of thing that turns into a spring surprise.
