Before You Close Your Vacation Home: Your Appliance Shutdown Checklist

Closing up a vacation home can feel like a race.

You pack the car, empty the refrigerator, take out the trash, lock the windows, adjust the thermostat, and make one last trip through every room.

But before you turn the key and head home, there is one important job you do not want to rush: preparing your appliances for several weeks or months without use.

Your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, ice maker, and other appliances may spend the off-season sitting quietly. A few simple steps before you leave can help prevent odors, moisture problems, water leaks, and unpleasant surprises when you return.

Here is how to set your appliances up for success while your vacation home is closed.

Start With the Refrigerator

The refrigerator usually requires the most thought because your best approach depends on whether you plan to leave it running.

For shorter absences, manufacturers may recommend leaving the refrigerator operating while removing perishable food. GE, for example, recommends leaving the refrigerator running for absences of a month or less, while turning off the ice maker and refrigerator water supply.

If you are shutting the refrigerator down for a longer period, remove all food and empty the ice bin. Clean the shelves, drawers, walls, and door seals and dry everything thoroughly.

Most importantly, do not unplug an empty refrigerator and then tightly close the doors.

Moisture trapped inside a closed refrigerator can create musty odors, mold, and mildew. Manufacturer instructions commonly recommend leaving the doors slightly open when the refrigerator is turned off for extended storage.

If your refrigerator has an automatic ice maker, shut off both the water supply and the ice maker. Turning off the water without turning off the ice maker may allow the ice maker to continue cycling.

Some refrigerators also have a vacation mode. This is a special setting designed to reduce energy use while the refrigerator is not being used normally. Because vacation-mode features vary by model—and some do not automatically turn off the ice maker—check your owner's manual (usually also available online provided you input your model and serial into a search engine) before relying on this feature.

Give the Dishwasher a Clean Start

Your dishwasher may look empty, but food particles, grease, and moisture can remain in filters and hidden areas.

Before closing the house, run the dishwasher through a cleaning cycle according to your manufacturer's instructions. Clean the filter if your model has a removable one, inspect the bottom of the tub for debris, and make sure the dishwasher has drained.

For extended periods without use, some manufacturers recommend shutting off both the water and electrical supply to the dishwasher. Maytag specifically advises turning off water and power when a dishwasher will not be used during the summer months.

If your vacation property can experience freezing temperatures later in the year, seasonal appliances require additional care. Water left in a dishwasher or its lines can freeze and cause damage. In that situation, the safest choice is to follow the owner's manual or have the appliance professionally winterized.

Protect Your Washing Machine From Water and Odors

A washing machine has two concerns when it sits unused: water supply and trapped moisture.

Start by removing everything from the washer. Run the manufacturer's recommended cleaning cycle if needed, then wipe the drum, detergent dispenser, and door area.

Front-load washers deserve extra attention around the rubber door seal, sometimes called the gasket. The gasket is the flexible rubber material that creates a watertight seal around the door. Water and residue can collect in its folds.

Wipe the gasket dry and leave the washer door slightly open so air can circulate. Whirlpool recommends allowing the washer interior to air-dry with the door open and notes that ventilation can help prevent odor-causing moisture buildup.

Next, turn off the hot and cold water supply valves to the washer. A supply valve controls the flow of water from your home's plumbing into the appliance.

Manufacturers recommend shutting off the washer's water supply during extended periods of non-use to reduce the chance of flooding if a hose or connection fails while no one is home.

Take a quick look at the hoses while you are there. Bulges, cracks, kinks, wear, or leaks are signs that a hose needs attention.

Don't Forget the Dryer

Your dryer may not hold water like a washing machine, but it deserves attention before you leave.

First, clean the lint screen.

The lint screen or lint filter catches fibers that come off clothing during drying. A blocked filter restricts airflow and makes the dryer work harder. Whirlpool recommends cleaning the lint screen after every use.

If you are closing the property for an extended period, your dryer's manufacturer may recommend disconnecting electrical power. For dryers with a steam feature, also check whether the water supply should be turned off. Whirlpool's non-use guidance for certain dryers includes unplugging or disconnecting power, cleaning the lint screen, and shutting off the water supply on steam models.

This is also a good time to notice whether your dryer has been taking longer than normal to dry clothes. Longer drying times can be a sign of restricted airflow and may justify having the vent system inspected before the next season.

Think About Every Appliance Connected to Water

When people think about water leaks, the washing machine usually comes to mind first.

But several other appliances may have water connections, including:

• Refrigerators and ice makers

• Dishwashers

• Washing machines

• Steam dryers

• Standalone ice machines

A small leak can cause a large problem when a home is empty for weeks.

Before leaving, identify which appliances are connected to water and review the manufacturer's shutdown instructions for each one or turn off the water to the whole house. 

Never force a valve that is stuck or corroded. If you are unsure whether a shutoff valve works correctly, have it inspected rather than discovering the answer after you leave.

Don't Simply Unplug Everything

It can be tempting to walk through the house unplugging every appliance.

That is not always the right answer.

Some appliances should remain powered depending on how the home is being maintained. Others have manufacturer-specific shutdown procedures. Refrigerators are a perfect example: a refrigerator left running needs a very different closing procedure from one being completely emptied and shut down.

Smart appliances, leak detectors, security equipment, HVAC systems, and other connected devices may also depend on electricity and Wi-Fi.

Make your closing plan appliance by appliance instead of treating everything the same.

Your Owner's Manual Matters

Vacation homes often contain a mix of older and newer appliances from different manufacturers. There is no single shutdown procedure that fits every refrigerator, washer, dishwasher, or dryer.

Before storing an appliance for months, look up the owner's manual using the model number. Search for sections labeled:

• Vacation care

• Non-use

• Storage

• Seasonal storage

• Winterizing

• Moving and storage

Those instructions should always take priority over general advice.

Consider an Appliance Check Before You Close

The end of the season is also a good time to pay attention to small problems you may have ignored during vacation. Has the ice maker been extra noisy? The dishwasher not draining as well as it used to? Maybe you’ve noticed loose gaskets, odors, inefficient cleaning or drying times, and so on. These problems rarely improve while an appliance sits unused. 

Addressing them before closing the house can make reopening much easier. It can also prevent you from starting your next vacation with an emergency service call.

Three Things to Do Before You Lock the Door

1. Shut off unnecessary appliance water supplies.
Pay special attention to washing machines, refrigerators with ice makers, dishwashers, and steam appliances. Follow your manufacturer's directions.

2. Clean and completely dry appliances that will sit unused.
Moisture plus time can create odors, mold, and mildew. Pay special attention to refrigerators and washing machines.

3. Make a reopening checklist.
Write down which breakers, plugs, water valves, ice makers, and appliance settings you changed. When you return months later, you will not have to rely on memory.

A little preparation at the end of the season can make the beginning of the next one much easier.

Before you close your vacation home, give your appliances the same attention you give the doors, windows, plumbing, and thermostat.

Your future self, and your appliances, will appreciate it.