The Smartest Ways to Prepare for Vacation
Just imagine: you’re so caught up in packing and daydreaming about your August vacation that you forget to secure your home. And as a result, you come home to a flooded basement or a broken window. Regardless of the outcome, there are seven steps you can take to prepare and protect your home from damage during your next vacation.
Turn off the water
Turning off the main supply line is crucial to keeping your home safe before leaving. A major leak while you’re gone can cause catastrophic damage to your home without anyone being there to take notice of it. Closing the valve on the main supply line cuts off water in the house but still allows outside sprinklers to work. You just won’t have to worry about leaks and gallons of wasted water.
Check the sump pump
If your sump pump fails while you’re on vacation and a storm hits, your basement could get flooded. Dump a bucket of water in there to test if the sump pump is working. The pump should turn on when the pit fills up with water. If it doesn’t, call your plumber immediately.
Water your plants
This one is obvious. If you’ll be away for a few days to a week, give your plants enough water to last (depending on how often they need to be fed).
Unplug electronics
When you’re away from home, you won’t be needing your electronics, so go ahead and unplug them – TVs, computers, lamps, fans – you’ll save money on electric and prevent a fire hazard or a fuse.
Set timers
The best tactic while you’re away is to make it look like someone is actually home. So set timers to go off during the late evening hours. This goes for the porch lights, the living room lamps, and even upstairs window candles.
Turn up the thermostat
Rather than turning off the AC, simply set your programmable thermostat to hold at a warm 85 degrees. The day before you get back, adjust it to a comfortable 72. If you have a manual thermostat, we still suggest turning it up while you’re gone to avoid wasting energy. You just might have to deal with some heat upon your return.
Tell a trusted neighbor
Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye out on your house for any suspicious acts. If the timers don’t go on, let them know to inform you. If you have a pet at home, ask them to check on it and feed as necessary. You might wanted to ask them to take in the mail as well, to further hide the fact that no one is home.
If you’re tired of coming home to a hot house and want to purchase a programmable thermostat, Leslie Heating & Cooling can set you up! We are a family-owned and operated business based in Woodridge, Illinois and is here for all of your emergency needs before vacation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To learn even more, give us a call at 630.621.9419 or visit our website.
