If your home is going to be vacant this winter, don't leave it susceptible to the elements. One episode of freezing weather could destroy your home, and everything you've worked so hard for. If you're worried about the cost of winterizing your home, don't be. Most of the tips provided here can be done on a relatively small budget. Here are three effective ways to help you avoid damage to your home while you're away this winter.

Protect Your HVAC System

When it comes to effective winterization of your home, you should begin with your HVAC system. The first thing you need to do is shut down your air conditioner for the winter. Begin with a thorough cleaning of the coils and fan blades. Once you're done there, you should clean out the condensation tube to avoid mold growth during the off season. Finally, protect it with a thermal AC cover. When it comes to your heater. The most important thing you can remember is to not turn it all the way off. Instead, leave it turned on to around 50 degrees. This will ensure that your heater comes on often enough to avoid frozen water pipes.

Insulate Your Water Pipes

While leaving your heater on is a good start towards pipe protection, it's not the only step you should take. Freezing temperatures can destroy your pipes and expose your home to significant water damage. Don't come home to a flood. Instead, insulate all your exposed water pipes using either pipe insulation sleeves, or old towels. If you choose to use old towels, simply wrap them around the exposed pipes and then wrap the towels with several layers of duct tape.

Install a Timer

You may be planning on being gone all winter, but you don't want your home to show it. Leaving your home sitting vacant is a good way to end up the victim of a burglary. Not only that, but squatters often move in to vacant homes and take over while the owners are away. Once squatters have taken over your home, it can be difficult to get rid of them. To avoid this type of disaster, make sure your home looks like you're still there. The easiest way to do that is to install a timer on your lights. The timer will ensure that lights come on throughout the day while you're away. It's also a good idea to arrange to have a friend drop by several times a week while you're away. They can check things out for you and make sure that your home is secure.

Contact an HVAC service, like Allied Mechanical & Electrical, Inc., for more help.