15 Lake Como Winterising Tasks to Protect Your Home Before You Go
A closed-up lakeside home can look peaceful from the outside, but winter has a habit of finding the one weak spot you forgot about. A small drip, a tripped boiler, a loose shutter, or a blocked gutter can turn into a costly mess by spring.
Lake Como adds a few extra wrinkles too. Homes can face damp air from the lake, cold snaps in the hills, heavy rain, steep access roads, and long gaps between visits. If the property sits empty for weeks or months, it needs more than a quick tidy before you leave.
Here’s a practical 15-point checklist to help you winterise property Lake Como homes properly, reduce the risk of damage, and keep things secure while you’re away.
Start with the parts of the home winter weather hits first
1. Clear gutters, drains, terraces, and roof channels
Fallen leaves, pine needles, moss, and silt can block water fast. On Lake Como, heavy rain can arrive suddenly, and many properties sit on slopes where water moves quickly.
Before you leave, clear:
Roof gutters
Downpipes
Terrace drains
Courtyard channels
Balcony outlets
External stair drains
Run water through the drains after cleaning, if possible. If it backs up or pools, get it cleared before the house is left empty.
Practical tip: Check where the water goes once it leaves the downpipe. If it discharges too close to the wall, it can soak stonework, foundations, or lower-level rooms.
2. Inspect the roof, chimneys, and flashing
You don’t need to climb onto the roof yourself. In fact, don’t. Ask a local roofer or caretaker to check it safely.
Look for:
Broken or slipped tiles
Gaps around chimneys
Loose metal flashing
Cracked mortar
Signs of past leaks in the attic
Small roof issues often stay hidden while someone is living in the property because heating and airflow dry things out. Once the house is closed, damp patches can spread and cause mould.
A simple roof inspection before winter is usually cheaper than repairing ceilings, plaster, and electrics later.
3. Secure shutters, awnings, outdoor furniture, and boatside items
Wind can be rough along exposed parts of the lake, especially where valleys funnel gusts. Anything loose outside becomes a risk to glass, doors, and neighbours’ property.
Before leaving, fold away or secure:
Awnings
Parasols
Garden chairs
Planters
Barbecue covers
Cushions
Small boat equipment
Pool covers
Decorative lanterns
Close shutters fully and check the latches. If shutters bang in the wind, they can damage frames or crack older masonry.
4. Protect gardens, irrigation, and outside taps
Even if the lakeside is milder than higher villages, cold spells still happen. Exposed pipes, outside taps, and irrigation lines are easy to forget because they’re out of sight.
Turn off and drain outside water lines where possible. Disconnect hoses and store them indoors. If you have irrigation, ask a gardener to shut it down for winter and check that pipes won’t hold standing water.
For gardens on terraces, make sure drains stay open. One blocked planter drain can flood a balcony or send water into the room below.
Make plumbing and heating your top priority
5. Decide whether to shut water off or keep systems running
This is one of the biggest decisions in winterisation property planning. The safest choice depends on how the home is heated, whether it has a boiler, and how often someone will check in.
Common options include:
Option | Best for | What to check |
Turn off the mains water | Homes with long empty periods | Drain vulnerable pipes and appliances |
Keep limited water on | Homes with heating, caretaking, or plants | Check for leaks and pressure drops |
Drain the whole system | Older homes or properties at freeze risk | Use a qualified plumber |
If you turn off the water, open taps briefly to release pressure. Also check appliances that hold water, such as washing machines, dishwashers, hot water cylinders, and filtration units.
This is where a local plumber earns their fee. They’ll know how your particular setup should be left.
6. Set the heating to protect against damp and freezing
Leaving a home completely cold can save energy, but it can also invite damp, mould, and frozen pipe problems. Many owners choose a low background heat, especially in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and rooms with external walls.
A plumber or heating engineer can help set the safest mode for your boiler or heating system. The aim is usually to avoid freezing and reduce damp, not keep the home warm like someone’s staying there.
Pay special attention to:
Older stone houses
Rooms over unheated cellars
North-facing rooms
Utility spaces
Bathrooms on exterior walls
Properties higher above the lake
Don’t guess with heating controls if you’re unsure. A wrong setting can shut the system down when you most need it.
7. Service the boiler and check heating pressure
A boiler breakdown while you’re away can leave the whole home cold for weeks. Before departure, book a service or safety check with a qualified local technician.
Ask them to check:
Boiler pressure
Visible leaks
Error warnings
Radiator performance
Thermostat settings
Flue condition
Frost protection settings, if fitted
Keep service records and photos of the control settings. If a caretaker needs to visit later, a clear photo can save confusion.
8. Bleed radiators and check for cold spots
Radiators that don’t heat properly can leave parts of the home cold and damp. If you use a hot water radiator system, check each radiator before you go.
Signs of a problem include:
Gurgling sounds
Warm bottom and cold top
No heat in one room
Pressure dropping after bleeding
Damp marks near valves
If pressure keeps falling, don’t ignore it. That can point to a leak or a system fault.
A quick walkthrough while the heating is on can show whether every room gets enough background warmth.
9. Insulate exposed pipes in cold areas
Pipe insulation is simple, but it can make a real difference in garages, cellars, outside cupboards, loft spaces, and utility rooms.
Focus on pipes in places that don’t get much heat. Insulation helps slow heat loss and gives pipes a better chance during a cold spell.
Also check door seals in rooms that contain pipework. A freezing draught through a garage door or cellar window can affect pipes even if the main house is warm.
Cut the risk of leaks, fire, and damp indoors
10. Unplug non-essential appliances
A closed home doesn’t need most appliances left on. Unplug what you can, especially small kitchen devices, chargers, lamps, entertainment equipment, and anything in a damp-prone room.
Leave on only what’s needed for safety, heating, security, ventilation, or remote monitoring.
Also empty and clean:
Fridges
Freezers, if switched off
Coffee machines
Washing machines
Dishwashers
Dehumidifiers, if not in use
Prop appliance doors slightly open where safe, so trapped moisture doesn’t create smells or mould.
11. Ventilate carefully without leaving the home exposed
Damp is one of the biggest winter problems around lakeside homes. Stone walls, shaded rooms, and closed shutters can trap moisture.
Good winter prep Lake Como work should include a ventilation plan. That doesn’t mean leaving windows open. It means using safe vents, internal airflow, and occasional caretaker visits.
Before you go:
Open internal doors to help air move
Pull furniture slightly away from external walls
Leave wardrobe doors ajar
Remove damp textiles from basements
Use moisture absorbers in small enclosed spaces
Check extractor fans in bathrooms
If the property often feels damp in winter, ask a local caretaker to air it on dry days. Short, regular ventilation is better than leaving windows cracked open for weeks.
Make the property look occupied and harder to target
12. Check locks, gates, alarms, and lighting
Security is about layers. A single lock or alarm helps, but a well-prepared property uses several small measures that make access harder and attention more likely.
Before leaving, check:
Door locks
Window catches
Shutter latches
Garage doors
Garden gates
Alarm sensors
External lights
Timer lights indoors
Motion lighting near entrances
If you have a security system, test it before you leave. Make sure the caretaker or trusted local contact knows what to do if it goes off.
Avoid leaving valuables visible through windows. Empty homes are much less inviting when they look tidy, checked, and hard to enter.
13. Remove signs that nobody is home
A full letterbox, dead plants, uncollected parcels, and overgrown access paths all say the same thing. Nobody’s been here for a while.
Set up a simple routine:
Redirect or pause post where possible
Ask someone to remove flyers and mail
Keep access paths swept
Arrange garden visits if needed
Ask someone to move bins back after collection
Avoid leaving keys in obvious outdoor spots
If the home is part of a small village or lakeside street, neighbours can be helpful. Let a trusted neighbour know when the property is empty and who to contact if they notice anything odd.
Put eyes on the property while you’re away
14. Arrange regular winter checks with photos
Remote monitoring is useful, but it doesn’t replace a person walking through the house. A real check can catch smells, damp patches, dripping taps, boiler faults, broken shutters, and storm damage.
Ask for scheduled visits, especially after heavy rain, high winds, or cold weather. The person checking should look at:
Boiler status
Indoor temperature
Signs of leaks
Ceilings and walls
Windows and shutters
Cellars and garages
Electrical trips
Garden and drains
Ask for dated photos or short videos. Keep them in one folder so you can compare changes over the season.
A winter check is most useful when it follows the same route every time. That makes new problems easier to spot.
For weather warnings, official regional and civil protection channels in Italy publish alerts for severe conditions. Your local contact can use those warnings to decide when an extra visit makes sense.
15. Line up local services before you leave
Don’t wait until something goes wrong to find help. Winter is much easier when the right people already know the property.
Useful local services include:
Property winterisation service
Plumber
Heating technician
Electrician
Roofer
Gardener
Cleaner
Key holder
Pool or spa technician
Security installer
General caretaker
Give your main contact written permission to call tradespeople if urgent work is needed. Set a spending limit for emergency repairs, if you’re comfortable doing that. Also leave clear instructions for keys, alarms, gates, parking, and access roads.
A good local caretaker can make the difference between a small winter issue and a spring disaster.
What to leave for your caretaker or winterisation team
A short handover sheet saves a lot of stress. Keep it printed inside the home and send a copy by email.
Include:
Your contact details
A secondary emergency contact
Key locations
Alarm instructions
Boiler instructions
Mains water location
Electrical panel location
Stopcock location
Wi-Fi details, if needed for monitoring
Preferred tradespeople
Rooms or areas needing special checks
Photos of normal boiler settings
Any known issues, such as a slow drain or sticky shutter
Keep the wording simple. In an emergency, nobody wants to read a long manual.
FAQ
Should I turn off the water if my Lake Como home is empty all winter?
In many cases, yes, but it depends on the heating system and plumbing layout. Ask a local plumber to confirm whether the mains should be shut off, partially drained, or left on for essential systems.
How often should someone check the property in winter?
A regular check every few weeks is sensible for many empty homes, with extra visits after storms, heavy rain, or cold spells. Older properties, hillside homes, and houses with known damp issues may need more frequent visits.
Is it safe to leave the heating on low?
Often, yes. Low background heating can help protect pipes and reduce damp. The safest setting depends on the boiler, insulation, and pipe locations, so get a heating technician to set it before you leave.
What’s the most common winter problem in empty homes?
Leaks and damp are two of the big ones. Blocked drains, roof issues, failed boilers, and frozen pipes can all cause damage if nobody spots them early.
Can a local service handle everything while I’m away?
Yes, a property winterisation or caretaking service can usually coordinate checks, basic preparation, and local trades. Make sure they understand the property, have access instructions, and send photo updates.
Get the home ready before the weather decides for you
The best time to prepare a Lake Como home for winter is before the last suitcase is packed. Once you’ve left, every small problem becomes harder to fix.
Work through the essentials: water, heating, drains, roof, damp, security, and regular checks. Then put a local contact in place who can act quickly if something changes.
If you’d rather not manage the checklist yourself, request property winterisation before you go. A careful winter setup now can save a lot of cleaning, repairs, and worry when you come back.
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