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One of the most important things to keep in mind before leaving on your vacation is to make sure that your home looks lived in. This is necessary whether you’re going on a 3-day vacation or a 3-week vacation. Next, you’ll want to eliminate any obstacles that could arise when you’re not at home to deal with them because the last thing you want to do is come home to a massive flood or an insane energy bill.
We’ve made a checklist for you to go through when planning your next vacation so you can avoid any unexpected disasters.
Water and Gas
Make sure to shut off the water and gas in your home before you leave for your trip. This will hopefully prevent any burst pipes if there is a surge in pressure for any reason. It could also prevent a house fire if it’s a gas pipe that leaks or bursts.
Additionally, your water heater should have a vacation mode, which won’t shut it off completely, but it will lower the temperature so that your water isn’t sitting at 140 degrees Fahrenheit the entire time you’re away.
Thermostat
When you’re not at home, even if it’s just during the workday, there’s no real need for your air conditioning to be running. So this is even truer when you’re away on vacation. However, this does not mean you should shut your air conditioning unit off entirely. If you do this, then you will use an enormous amount of energy to turn it back on again and then get your house back to the temperature and comfort level that you want.
Instead, raise your thermostat about 5 degrees higher than the usual temperature. This will save you money and energy while keeping your home ready for your arrival.
Windows
Close most of the blinds and curtains in your home so that people can’t look inside while you’re gone, but make sure to leave a few open so that it doesn't look like you’re intentionally trying to shut your house up. This will definitely help to make your home look lived in, even while you’re gone.
Additionally, make sure the close all of the windows. This will help to regulate your home’s temperature while you’re gone so that you don’t have to worry as much about drastic temperature swings.
Appliances
Whether you’re home or away, you should always make sure that unused appliances have been unplugged. Some appliances continue to draw power even if they’re turned off or not running, and when you are out of the house for an extended period of time, there is really no need for those electronic items to be left plugged in.
If you have questions regarding your heating and air conditioning unit either before or after your vacation, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Dyess Air & Plumbing. We have been providing high-quality HVAC service for the last 40 years and would be more than happy to help answer your questions and solve any problems you may have encountered.