5 Tips to Get Your House Ready for Vacation
Whether you’re planning a getaway for a few days or a few weeks, it’s important to make sure that you take adequate steps so that you can go away and enjoy yourself without worrying about the state of your home while you’re away.
Below are five things to keep in mind while preparing to leave for your vacation:
1. Shut Off Your Water Valve
Many homeowners worry about the state of their plumbing, and with good reason: a leak or burst pipe can cause extensive damage in little time at all. Leaking water can quickly cause damage to your floors, ceilings, walls, and even your furniture and kitchen cabinets and can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.
While it may seem like a second thought, it’s important to take this step because gallons of water may leak into your home during your absence, which can lead to health issues, structural problems, and cost thousands of dollars.
2. Clean Your Garbage Disposal
It’s important to clean your garbage disposal regularly to keep it free of clog-causing debris, but it’s especially critical to take the time to clean it before you leave for an extended period. The reason is that foodstuffs such as fruit peels, eggshells, and other items may still be lodged within your garbage disposal, and can attract flies, ants, and can cause your kitchen to stink.
Instead of worrying about an unpleasant surprise when you return, take a moment to flush the unit with white vinegar and water for a minute or two before you leave to clean it of any leftovers.
3. Disconnect Your Appliances
Why would you want to keep paying for electricity when you aren’t using it? Unplugging appliances and items such as your television, computers, and home entertainment systems can not only save you money, but it can also help prevent issues with your electronics due to an unexpected surge during your absence.
4. Put Your Water Heater in “Vacation Mode”
Most modern water heaters have a “vacation mode” which can be turned on when you go out of town. These settings turn down the temperature in your water tank until you re-adjust it, and can help you save money on your energy bill while you’re away. If you have an older water heater which isn’t equipped with this setting, only turn down the temperature by a few degrees and enjoy the same results.
5. Arm Your Alarms
Before you leave, make sure to test the batteries on your smoke alarms and change the batteries if need be. Also, be sure to contact your security alarm company to notify them of your absence, and leave the alarm code, security company’s contact information, your contact numbers, and your vacation itinerary with a friend or family member in case there is an issue.
By taking precautionary steps to maintain your home while you are away, you can enjoy peace of mind and the comfort of knowing your home is looked after.
For information about how Falcon Plumbing, Miami, FL can help you prepare to go out of town, give us a call at (305)-251-7333.
