It’s important to take some simple steps before you go on vacation in order to make sure your home is safe and secure while you’re away. By following these tips, you can relax knowing that your home will be just as you left it when you return.
1. Get your home inspected for electric damage.
Because most of these tips will rely on keeping your electricals safe working order while you are away for vacation, you have to ensure that the electricity in your home is safe before turning it on. The easiest way to do this is to get a visit from an electrician before you go away, and while they are there ask them to check all of your electricals for damage — especially around plugs and sockets and the main switch. If you live in a rental, you can ask your landlord for an electrical inspection document just to ease your mind that your place and belongings will be alright.
2. Make sure your lights are all working.
Before you leave on vacation, make sure that all of your lights are working. Start by enabling the automatic timers you might have set up for your light switches. Then make sure that all of your lights are in good working order. You can do this by switching each light switch on and off a few times to see if the bulb has gone out. If so, replace the bulb with a working one.
3. Make sure the heating or cooling is set to an energy-efficient temperature.
Make sure that your home’s temperature is properly maintained while you’re away by setting it to an energy-efficient temperature. For example, if you have central air conditioning, set it between 78 and 80 degrees. If your unit is controlled by a digital thermostat, then you should be able to program it for this temperature while you are away. Even if you don’t have central air conditioning, setting your home’s heating system at a safe energy-efficient temperature will still help keep your electricity bill low while you’re away on vacation.
4. If you have a home security system, make sure it’s armed and monitored.
In order to protect your home from burglars while you’re away on vacation, make sure that your home security system is armed and monitored. These days a number of different electronic devices can be used for this purpose, including cellular phones and other mobile devices. Make sure that these items are all programmed with your alarm code before you head off for your trip.
5. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors to ensure that they’re working properly.
It is important that your smoke detectors are working properly when you leave on vacation. First, make sure you test the batteries in every detector in your home to ensure they’re all working. If any of them need new batteries, replace them with good ones immediately. Then check the detectors themselves to make sure the alarm function works and there is no warning light on the front.
6. Turn off water valves under sinks or toilets to avoid leaks while you’re away.
If you’re going away for a month or longer and you don’t want to call a plumber to come and shut off your water valves, make sure to turn them off yourself. This is the simplest way to avoid any plumbing issues while you’re away. It’s important because even if drip leaks are tiny and slow, they can result in a lot of water damage over time, and that can be costly to repair.
7. Lock up any valuables like jewelry and electronics before leaving the house for an extended period of time.
Before you leave on vacation, make sure that anything valuable is locked up or taken with you. This includes jewelry and electronics like laptops and cell phones. If any of these items are left unattended it could lead to a break-in at your home while you’re away.
8. Remove any food that might attract pests while you’re away.
Pests can come in and make a mess of your home while you’re away on vacation, so it’s important to take steps to prevent this from happening. Clean up any food sources inside the home, such as crumbs on the counter or pet food that isn’t stored properly. Also, take all garbage and recycling bins to the curb before leaving for your trip.
9. Have someone check your home regularly.
Lastly, you should have someone check your home regularly while you’re away on vacation. It could be a neighbor who stops by every day, or perhaps a service that has been set up to do it for you. Either way, checking to ensure all is well daily will give you peace of mind that nothing bad has happened in your absence.
Leaving your home for an extended period of time can be nerve-wracking, but by following these simple tips you can relax knowing that your house is in good hands. By making sure everything from the smoke detectors to the water valves are functioning properly, you can rest assured that your home is safe and sound while you’re away. And lastly, make sure to have someone check in on it regularly to put your mind at ease.
