How Do I Prepare My House For A Long Absence

We will be gone for about six months and no one will be living in the house. We have a caretaker to check on the house and we will shut off the water. How can I keep roots from growing in the sewer pipes? Do toilets need to be flushed? What other recommendations do you have for winterizing a house?

RV antifreeze in toilet bowls and sink traps will not evaporate and keeps the sewer gas in the pipes. Be sure to shut off the water heater or put it on vacation setting. Shut off the water to the washer because washer hoses can break while you are gone and cause flooding. Open cabinet doors to allow air to circulate around pipes and set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees to help prevent frozen pipes.