Every April and May, half of Naples packs up and heads back to Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Canada. Six months later, those same homeowners come back to one of two things: a house exactly the way they left it, or a $15,000 insurance claim.
We've walked into too many returning-snowbird homes where a $2 washer hose burst in July and the laundry room ceiling collapsed in August. We've replaced refrigerator that sat sealed shut for six months and grew mold inside the door gaskets that never came out. We've seen ice makers that flooded entire kitchens because nobody shut off the water line.
This is the appliance shutdown checklist we give every Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, and Pelican Bay customer who's leaving for the season. Print it. Run through it the day before you leave. Future-you will thank you.
The Refrigerator — The Single Biggest Decision
You have two choices, and you need to pick one before you leave:
Option 1: Leave It Running (Recommended for Most)
Keeping your fridge running while you're gone costs about $15–$25/month in electricity. In return, you avoid mold, gasket damage, and the smell. Here's how to set it up:
- Empty perishables completely. Anything that can spoil — gone. Donate, eat, or trash it.
- Leave shelf-stable items only. Condiments, unopened bottles, frozen items in the freezer.
- Turn the temperature up slightly — 38°F instead of 36°F. Less work, same safety.
- Clean and dry the interior thoroughly before you leave. Crumbs grow mold.
- Replace the water filter if it's been in for more than 4 months — old filters breed bacteria.
- Make sure the door seals are clean and closing tight.
Option 2: Shut It Down Completely
If you want to save the electricity (or you're worried about a power outage during hurricane season), here's the right way:
- Empty everything, including the freezer. No exceptions.
- Unplug the unit.
- Turn off the water supply line to the ice maker (very important — see below).
- Wash the interior with warm water and baking soda. Dry every surface.
- Prop both doors open with a rolled towel or door propper. This is the step everyone skips and everyone regrets. A sealed fridge for six months in Florida humidity = guaranteed mold, guaranteed gasket damage.
- Empty the ice bin and leave it out.
- Pull the unit out and vacuum the condenser coils while you have access — saves a service call later.
The Washing Machine — The #1 Source of Catastrophic Damage
Insurance industry data: washing machine hoses are the leading cause of water damage claims in vacation homes. The fix takes 30 seconds.
Before You Leave
- Turn off both supply valves behind the washer (hot and cold). Turn the handles clockwise until they stop.
- Run a "Tub Clean" or hot empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar to kill mildew.
- Leave the washer door open when you go. Front-loaders especially — closed doors grow black mold inside the gasket within weeks in Florida humidity.
- Wipe the door gasket dry and pull back the rubber seal to check for trapped water.
- Empty the detergent dispenser drawer and leave it open.
- Check the supply hoses for bulges or cracks. If they're more than 5 years old, replace them with stainless steel braided hoses before you leave. A $25 hose pair beats a $15,000 floor replacement.
Bonus: Install a Water Leak Sensor
WiFi-connected leak sensors (Moen Flo, YoLink, Govee) cost $50–$200 and will text you immediately if they detect water. For snowbirds, this is the single best appliance investment you can make.
The Dryer
- Clean the lint trap thoroughly.
- Pull the dryer out and vacuum behind it — including the vent connection.
- Inspect the exterior vent flap to make sure it closes tight (rodents and lizards love an open vent during the off-season).
- Wipe down the drum to remove any moisture.
- Leave the door cracked open if it's a front-loader.
The Dishwasher
This is another mold magnet. Six months sealed shut in Florida's humidity = science experiment.
- Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the top rack.
- Clean the filter at the bottom (most people don't even know it exists — pull it out, rinse it, put it back).
- Wipe the door seal dry.
- Leave the door propped open about 2 inches with a rolled towel.
- Turn off the hot water supply valve under the sink (the small handle on the line going to the dishwasher).
The Ice Maker (Stand-Alone or In-Fridge)
This is the silent killer. A stuck ice maker valve will pump water onto your kitchen floor 24/7.
- Turn the ice maker OFF at the unit.
- Shut off the water supply valve behind the fridge or wherever the line connects.
- Empty the ice bin completely.
- For dedicated wine cooler/under-counter ice makers: Drain the water reservoir, run the cleaning cycle if your unit has one, then unplug.
The Garbage Disposal
- Run it for 30 seconds with cold water and a handful of ice cubes to clean the blades.
- Drop in a sliced lemon and run again to deodorize.
- Leave the disposal off at the wall switch if possible.
The Range / Oven
- Wipe down the interior and exterior.
- For gas ranges: Confirm all knobs are in the OFF position. Some snowbirds also shut off the gas at the main valve — ask your gas provider.
- For electric ranges: Wipe the cooktop. Make sure no heavy items are stored on top during the off-season.
The Microwave
- Clean the interior (food residue attracts pests).
- Unplug the unit.
- Leave the door propped open if you can.
The Wine Cooler
If you have a built-in wine cooler in Naples, leaving it running is generally fine — but:
- Top off the bottles you have; don't leave the unit half-empty (it works harder).
- Set temperature to mid-range (~55°F).
- Clean the door gasket.
- Check the drain line for clogs (Sub-Zero and U-Line units have a small drip tray that overflows when blocked).
The Range Hood
- Clean the grease filters thoroughly. Old grease hardens over six months and becomes a fire hazard when you start cooking again in the fall.
- Wipe the hood interior.
- Make sure the exterior vent is closed (if you have a powered damper).
The Whole-Home Checklist
Before you walk out the door:
- ✅ Shut off the main water supply to the house (best practice for snowbirds — kills almost all flood risk)
- ✅ Unplug small countertop appliances (toasters, coffee makers, mixers)
- ✅ Set thermostat to 78–80°F (not higher — you need some AC running to control humidity, or you'll get mold everywhere)
- ✅ Run a dehumidifier if you have one in a closet or storage room
- ✅ Whole-home surge protector is on (storms hit even when you're not here)
- ✅ Test your WiFi leak sensors before you leave
- ✅ Leave a key with a trusted neighbor or property manager
- ✅ Schedule a property check at least once per month during the off-season
The Pre-Return Service Call
Here's a tip almost no one knows: schedule us to do a pre-return inspection two weeks before you fly back.
We'll come out, check every appliance, run a cleaning cycle on the dishwasher and washer, replace any failing hoses, restock fridge filters, and make sure everything is operational so you don't fly into Naples and immediately face a dead fridge or flooded laundry room.
It takes about an hour, costs less than one emergency service call, and means you can land at RSW and just enjoy your home.
When You Get Back
Even if you did everything right:
- Run the washer empty with hot water and vinegar before your first load
- Run the dishwasher empty with vinegar before your first dishes
- Replace the fridge water filter
- Clean refrigerator gaskets with warm soapy water
- Listen to every appliance for the first week — voltage events and humidity damage during your absence often show up as new noises
The Bottom Line
Snowbird damage is almost always preventable. Twenty minutes of shutdown prep saves an average of $4,000 in repair calls per off-season — and that's just the appliance damage, not the water remediation, drywall, or mold treatment.
We service Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Pelican Bay, Ave Maria, Golden Gate, Fort Myers Beach, and Lely. Snowbird shutdown and return inspections are something we do all year — call us a week before you fly out, or two weeks before you fly back.
Safe travels. See you in November.
Continue Reading
- Hurricane Appliance Prep Checklist: Protect Your Home Before the Storm — the storm-season companion to this guide
- Why Florida Humidity Is Slowly Destroying Your Appliances — and How to Stop It — the chemistry behind the mold you found on return
- AllFix Is Now Serving Southwest Florida — Here's What We Stand For — who we are when you call us in November