Leaving a Cherry Creek Condo Empty for Winter: Leak Prevention

Before you leave

Close the unit's main water shutoff if the building allows it and it does not serve fire sprinklers or a shared system. Ask the engineer if unsure.
If you cannot close the main, close the supply valves to the washer, dishwasher, ice maker and toilets.
Set the thermostat to a steady temperature that keeps every room comfortably above freezing, and leave interior doors open so heat reaches exterior walls.
Check that the fan coil or furnace is serviced and that its condensate drain is clear.
Put inexpensive leak sensors under sinks, the water heater, the washer and the refrigerator; connected sensors can alert your phone.
Give building staff a current phone number, an emergency contact in Denver, and written permission to enter if water is reported.
Leave a key with a trusted person or the front desk, according to building rules.
Review your HO-6 policy for any vacancy or unoccupancy conditions.

Why vacant units are a special case

Many Cherry Creek owners spend part of the winter elsewhere. That pattern is normal, but a unit with no one in it removes the most reliable leak detector there is: a person who notices a damp rug or a dripping sound. A failed toilet fill valve or a cracked ice-maker line can run slowly for weeks, saturating the subfloor or slab and the unit below. When it is finally found, the drying job is larger, and mold is more likely.

Insurance policies sometimes treat long-vacant homes differently, and some include conditions about maintaining heat or shutting off water during absences. The wording varies a great deal, so read your own policy or ask your agent rather than relying on general rules. Following the conditions in your policy is just as important as the physical preparations.

A check-in rhythm while you are away

Before departure: Walk the unit with whoever will check on it. Show them the shutoff, the breaker panel and the sensors.
Every week or two: A quick visit to look under sinks, around toilets and the water heater, and at ceilings, and to confirm the heat is running.
After any hard freeze: An extra check, especially of rooms on exterior walls and any garage or balcony plumbing.
Whenever a sensor alerts: Your contact or the front desk should enter promptly, close the shutoff, and send photos.
When you return: Run each fixture, check for slow drips, and look for stains or swelling before restoring normal use.

General information for Cherry Creek, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.