The Dalmatian winter is mild — and still the season in which most damage happens. That has less to do with cold than with damp, wind and the house standing empty. Anyone who locks up in October and comes back in May leaves the property to itself for seven months. In that time the things happen that get genuinely expensive in spring: mould behind the sofa, a burst pipe, a roof stripped by the first bura.
1. Water: the biggest single source of damage
Frost damage is considered a rare problem in Dalmatia — wrongly. In the hills behind the coast and in unheated houses, night temperatures do drop below zero. More importantly: a small leak that would be noticed immediately in summer runs unnoticed for months in winter.
- Close the main stopcock when the house stands empty for a longer period
- Drain pipework and the hot water cylinder, especially external lines and garden irrigation
- Shut off the supply to the washing machine and dishwasher
- Seal traps with a little oil so they do not dry out and let drain smell into the house
- Pool: lower the water level, drain the pump, secure the cover
2. Damp and mould
The real winter problem on the Adriatic is humidity. Stone houses store it particularly well, and a closed house with no air exchange becomes a mould chamber over the months. The classic mistake is to seal the house up completely.
- Move furniture a few centimetres away from external walls
- Leave cupboard doors and internal doors open so air can circulate
- Put dehumidifiers or granulate containers in the critical rooms
- Stand mattresses and cushions on edge, or cover them
- Plan for regular airing — which only works if somebody is there
3. Bura and storms
The bura comes down off the mountains in gusts and regularly reaches hurricane force in the Šibenik area. Anything not fastened down becomes a projectile — and in case of doubt damages more than your own house.
- Garden furniture, parasols and the barbecue into the house or the shed
- Retract and secure awnings, close shutters
- Have loose roof tiles and gutters checked before the season
- Thin out trees near the house, remove dead branches
- Check that satellite dishes and solar panels are firmly fixed
4. Power, systems and security
- Switch off the circuits you do not need, empty the fridge and leave the door open
- Clean the air conditioning and change the filters before shutting it down
- Replace smoke alarm batteries
- Take valuables and documents with you, or store them securely
- Check your insurance: many policies contain clauses about extended vacancy
5. Garden and outdoor areas
- Prune olive trees and hedges before winter
- Drain and shut down the irrigation system
- Clear leaves from gutters and drains — heavy rain arrives in autumn
- Move sensitive container plants to a sheltered spot
The underlying problem: a checklist is no substitute for being there
Everything above can be done in a weekend. The real risk arises afterwards, in the months when nobody is there. A pipe that bursts in January becomes a total loss if it is discovered in May — while the same damage found at an inspection two weeks later stays a manageable repair.
Which is why the most important item on any winter checklist is not on the list itself: somebody who looks in between times, airs the place and reacts when something happens.
We take this on
Winterising can be booked on its own — as can regular inspection visits through the winter months, with a photo report after every one.