Rental Property Winterization Checklist (Plus the Supplies Worth Buying)

A burst pipe is one of the most expensive surprises a landlord can get. It can mean torn-out drywall, a tenant who has to move out for weeks, and an insurance claim. The prevention is usually a few cheap supplies and an afternoon.

Do this list before your first hard freeze. If you own more than one property, run through every unit the same way each fall so nothing gets missed.

Exterior

Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. If the water line to a hose bib is still full when it freezes, it can split inside the wall. Disconnect hoses, close the interior shut-off valve if there is one, and open the outside spigot to drain it.

Cover the spigots. After disconnecting hoses and following the faucet’s winterization instructions, add insulated outdoor faucet covers. They cost very little and take a minute to install.

Clean the gutters. Clear leaves and debris so meltwater can drain. Address recurring ice dams with a qualified contractor; gutter cleaning alone does not solve their underlying causes.

Check weatherstripping and caulk. Look at exterior doors, windows and any gaps where pipes or wires enter the house. A tube of exterior caulk and some door weatherstripping can cut drafts and lower the tenant's heating bill.

Plumbing

Insulate exposed pipes. Focus on pipes in crawl spaces, basements, garages and exterior walls. Foam pipe insulation snaps on and is easy to cut to size.

Use heat cable only where it makes sense. For pipes that are hard to insulate or that have frozen before, pipe heat cable is an option. Buy a UL-listed product and follow the instructions exactly. Heat cable installed wrong is a fire risk.

Know where the main shut-off is. Make sure you can find it fast, and make sure your tenant knows where it is too. Put it in your move-in packet.

Check the water heater. Look for leaks, rust or pooling around the base. Flush it if it's due.

Heating and air

Replace the furnace filter. A dirty filter makes the system work harder right when it needs to run the most. Buy furnace filters in a multipack and write the size on the furnace so you never have to measure again.

Have the furnace serviced. A yearly tune-up is cheap compared to an emergency call in January. If the unit is older, do this first.

Test the thermostat. Make sure it holds temperature and the batteries are fresh. A Wi-Fi smart thermostat can help if the unit might sit vacant, since you can check the temperature remotely when its connection is working. My favorite is the Amazon Smart Thermostat. Check HVAC compatibility, wiring requirements and Wi-Fi access before buying. If you want to spend a little more, compare this alternative.

Check detectors. Heating season is when carbon monoxide risk goes up. Test every smoke and CO alarm and replace any that are expired.

If a unit is vacant

Vacant units are where freezing damage happens most often, because nobody notices a problem until it's big.

• Keep the heat on. Many insurance policies require it, and a lot of owners use 55°F as a minimum. Check what your policy says.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on very cold nights so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Put water leak sensors near the water heater, under sinks and by the washer.
• Drive by or have someone check on it after any cold snap.

Tell your tenants what to do

Send a short fall message. A few lines is enough:

• Keep the heat on and set it no lower than 60 to 65°F, even if you're traveling.
• Open cabinet doors on extremely cold nights.
• Disconnect and store garden hoses.
• Call you right away if water stops running, pressure drops or you hear banging in the pipes.

Keep a copy of the message with your maintenance records.

Keep a record

Write down what you did at each property and the date. Take a few photos of the insulation, covers and filters. If you ever file an insurance claim, proof that you took reasonable steps helps.

My Rental Property Organization Checklist is free and has a spot for annual property reviews. If you want to track repairs, vendors and costs in one place, the Landlord Maintenance & Repair Tracker does exactly that.

Where I would buy the winterization supplies

I compare Amazon and Lowe’s rather than buying everything from one store. For several rentals, multipacks can make sense. For one repair, local pickup and a smaller quantity may be the better choice.

Price snapshot: The Amazon prices and discounts below were supplied for this guide on October 6, 2026 and have not been independently verified. Lowe’s prices may vary by store. These are budgeting examples; confirm the current price, coupon, pack size and specifications before ordering. Products from the two stores may differ in materials, dimensions and performance.

Winterization supply list

• Outdoor faucet covers
• Foam pipe insulation
• Pipe heat cable
• Exterior caulk
• Door weatherstripping
• Furnace filters
• Amazon Smart Thermostat
• Water leak sensors

Next up: smart locks and keypad locks for rental properties.

Educational information only. Not legal, tax or financial advice. Check local codes and your insurance policy.