Everyone enjoys taking a well earned break and the occasional vacation away from home. It’s a great way to unwind, but many people have a host of problems to deal with on their return. Like most things in life, there is a right way and a wrong way to plan out a vacation. There are three key areas that most people fail to address that can cost money in unnecessary energy bills and repairs. Here are three top tips to keeping your home safer and saving money while on vacation.
1. Tame Your Thermostat
It is vitally important to ensure that your thermostat is set correctly when you leave your home on vacation. There is no sense in heating and/or cooling an empty house, but you in winter you do need some heat. This is necessary to reduce the chances of your pipes freezing while you are away. A good rule of thumb is to set the temperature to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid frozen pipes. It is also a bad idea to have too much heat in your home for a couple of good reasons. Firstly, a buildup of condensation due to a lack of air circulation could cause damage to wall and floor coverings. Secondly, excessive heat buildup can warp wooden floors and fixtures in a surprisingly short period of time. For this reason, make sure that your temperature is set no higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit and ensure that your air can still circulate.
2. Remember Your Electronics
Before you leave your home to go on vacation, unplug as many nonessential electronic items as you possibly can. Unplugging your electronics and using surge protectors on necessary devices can prevent them being damaged by a power surge in your absence. Another fringe benefit is that you will have a lower power bill as all electronic devices draw a little power when they are plugged in, even if they are turned off. Protecting your electronics in this way will mean that you have to reset some timers and clocks on your return, but that is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
3. Don’t Forget Your Water
This is the big one that catches most people out and delivers a nasty surprise after a vacation. It is a good idea to turn your water off completely before you go away for any extended period of time. If you can, locate your main water valve and shut it off. While you’re on vacation, a small leak can go undetected and cause a great deal of damage to areas of your home, such as drywall, appliance, flooring, and cabinetry. This situation is exacerbated if your vacation is for a long period as any leaks will only get worse over time. There will be some water left in your pipes that may be a concern for winter trips, but we have already covered home heating requirements earlier. Water damage is expensive to fix, very disruptive to your home life and a terrible way to end your vacation, so turn the water off before leaving.