The kids are out of school for summer, and the weather is heating up, so you know that that means: It’s vacation time! If you are getting ready to head out for some fun and adventure, you have likely thought about what you need to take with you and how to pack it and what things you will do on vacation. But, there are other things you should also be doing before you leave to ensure your home is vacation ready. Here are 10 things to do before hitting the road or friendly skies.
Never Announce You Are Going Away or Are Away
Don’t make your home an easy target for those who have bad intentions. Even if you think it’s just friends who will see social media posts about your upcoming or current vacation, scammers and burglars are resourceful. It’s best to wait until you return to share your vacation details.
Make Sure There’s Not Easy Access to Your Home
While most burglars access homes by force according to FBI statistics, they often look for easy access through unlocked doors and open windows first. Repair any door or window that is not locking properly, replace any broken windows, bring any hidden keys inside your home, and double-check doors and windows before leaving to ensure all are properly secure.
Unplug Small Appliances
A power surge while you’re gone could not only damage small appliances and electronics, it could also start a fire. As a safety precaution against this, unplug any small appliance or electronic device not plugged into a surge protector, and power off any surge protectors.
Turn On Lights
Use a timer to turn lights on and off inside and out to give the appearance of someone being home. Consider moving a lamp or other light into the kitchen and other areas where there are not typically plug-in lighting, so all the often-used areas are lit up.
Turn Water Off to Dishwasher and Washing Machine
Odds are the water lines to your dishwasher and washing machine will be fine while you are gone, but do you really want to chance a hose breaking and flooding your home? The dishwasher and washing machine both have shut-off valves that turn the water off to them individually, so use them to save you from a potential headache.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Save some money by adjusting the temperature on your thermostat up, but do not turn off the air conditioner while you are gone. Turning it off completely, especially on very hot days, will increase the temperature so high that it could cause damage to your home and the system itself. Not to mention, trying to cool your home down from the extreme temps will be a big challenge. Instead, hold your thermostat at a higher temperature. Experts recommend a temperature of 82 while away. Be sure you use the hold function to ensure the programming does not kick in while you are gone.
Wipe Out the Sink and Run the Disposal
We’ve all experienced the not-pleasant sensation of opening a door to nasty odors that have stagnated in the sink or disposal. Imagine a week’s worth of leftover food particles stagnating and the smell that will hit you when you come home. Now, prevent it by running the disposal and wiping the sink out.
Use Vacation Mode on Tank Water Heaters
Tank water heaters are designed to continually heat and reheat water as it falls below the desired temperature. That means it will run while you are away if left at your desired temperature. Avoid this – and save some energy costs – by using the built-in vacation mode. This will keep the water at a much lower temperature.
Because tankless water heaters heat water as it’s being used, you typically do not need to do anything with them before leaving. However, if you’ve enabled features such as high-frequency recirculation, consider turning those off while you are gone.
Check Gutters, Downspouts, and Drains
The last thing you want to come home to is flooding in your home. Make sure your gutters, downspouts and drains are unblocked and working properly to prevent water overflowing and potentially flooding your home. Also, make sure downspouts are positioned properly to flow away from your home.
Clean Your Home
Nobody wants to come home to a messy house or yard. Save yourself the frustration by cleaning before leaving. Inside, clean out your fridge and throw away anything that will go bad while you are away, wash dishes, change bedding before leaving, do laundry, dust, vacuum, clean any bathrooms that need it, and take the trash out right before heading out. Outside, mow your lawn and do any clean-up needed that will allow you to come home and relax before tackling more yard projects.
Looking for your dream home? Liberty Homes has been building new homes in Utah for nearly 30 years. We take pride in our trade, crafting each home as if it were our own. Our quality, affordable homes are energy smart and thoughtfully personalized for your active Utah lifestyle. We currently have townhomes available in Salt Lake County, single-family homes in West Jordan (now open to all ages!), and single-family homes in Heber City. Contact us today to find your dream home.
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