Preparing a Utah rental for winter: the checklist we run every October
Freezing pipes, ice dams and furnace failures are the expensive calls of a Wasatch Front winter. The checklist we run on every managed home before the first hard freeze.
By the Ekot team · October 15, 2026 · Reviewed by Esther Jackson-Stowell, Principal Broker
Before the first freeze
- Furnace serviced and filter replaced; carbon monoxide alarms tested.
- Exterior hose bibs shut off and drained; sprinkler system blown out.
- Gutters cleared so meltwater drains instead of forming ice dams.
- Attic insulation and roof checked where ice dams formed last year.
- Weather stripping and thresholds checked on exterior doors.
With the resident
- Written winter guidance: keep heat at or above 55°F when away, open cabinet doors under sinks on the coldest nights, report drips immediately.
- Confirm who handles snow removal and by when; Salt Lake City requires sidewalks cleared within a set time after snowfall.
- Share the 24-hour emergency line again.
For the owner
Your statement shows the fall inspection photographs and any vendor invoices. Winterization is included in full management; owners on leasing-only packages receive the checklist to run themselves or to assign to their own vendor.
See what full management includes→
General information for Salt Lake Valley owners and residents, not legal, tax or lending advice. Figures are dated and sourced where given. Reviewed by Esther Jackson-Stowell, Principal Broker.
