I agree with your steps for de-winterizing a home that is winterized except for the first step is left out.  Before turning on the water at the well or street, the plubming system needs to be air pressure tested to see if it can hold pressure.  If it can not hold air pressure then it will not hold water pressure.  Water does damage and potentially major damage as air does not.  A home that is indicated as being winterized does not indicate that it was properly winterized, has no leaks, or was not vacant the prior winter.  In this day of age, copper has been found to removed from a lot of homes.  If you do not know what you are looking for, you may miss something and cause a liability issue if water is spraying everywhere.  Hire a licensed plumber (not a Handyman) and ask them to air pressure test the system before turning on the water.  It is worth the money to save your butt from getting into high water if you know what I mean.

Thank you for posting so much information.  You have been a wonderful resource for me personally as well as my clients.

Thanks for this VERY helpful information, by far the most thorough I have found in my googling. I will hopefully be dewinterizing my newly purchased property this weekend and just wondered if anyone has any recommendations about the pace of returning heat to the home. Is it okay to set the thermostat to 60 and let the furnace do its thing, or should I heat more incrementally over the course of a few days? I'm in Chicago area, temps in the teens and heat has been off since Nov. Thanks again for the great site.

I have been in the Home inspection business for going on 8 years with a degree in BIT. In all my years I can say that most homes are not winterized correctly. To correctly winterize a home so you have a higher success ratio for non frozen pipes the water system needs to be preasurized with air to blow out any remaining water that may sit in the low areas of the piping. To often the company will do a winterizing service and leave there disclaimer behind stating that with the harsh winters of Minnesota they can't be held responsible for breaks in the lines. When I come into Dewinterize or to do a prepurchase home inspection and I find leaks when ever possible I will call the Co. to get information on their procedure, the air preasurizing for the winterizing was not done on most of these homes. Unfortunately this adds a big cost factor to someone in the final sale. 

For aditional tips on de-winterizing your house visit this ehow web artical: http://www.ehow.com/how_4837988_dewinterize-plumbing-house.html

Hi! I just discovered this blog in a google search for how to de-winterize a foreclosed home. I tried downloading your guide, but it seems that the file is no longer available. Would you be able to email it to me? Or repost it?

Thank you so much!

Hi Brian,

Id like a copy of your checklist too if possible. I tried the link for the PDF in the opening paragraphs and like Monika, I was unable to download it. Thanks in advance, Joe

Here's the PDF:  http://www.homeinspectoratlanta.com/system/files/userfiles/dewinterizing_checklist.pdf

Hi I am trying to print a copy of your guide and the link is no longer available. Are you still offering the checklist for dewinterizing homes?

Thanks.

Rosa

Great info for a 1st time home owner. Thanks!