Whether you’re the type of person who travels often, or, if this is your first vacation in a while, chances are you want to come back to your home exactly how you left it. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, such as burglary or home damage, that you’ll want to avoid at all costs. We’ve put together this checklist to help ensure that your home is protected while you are away.
- Secure your home and valuables. No matter how long you’re going to be away from your home, the most important thing to do is make sure your home is protected from intruders. Lock all windows and doors, set your alarm system if you have one, close your blinds, and leave a light on (or put one on a timer) to make it appear that someone is home. Also, make sure that all valuables are hidden.
- Prevent water damage. First, turn your main water off. It’s always a possibility for a plumbing emergency to happen while you’re away, and you won’t be around to fix it before it causes major damage. Turning off the water in your home while you’re away can prevent this from happening. You’ll also want to make sure that your sump pump is working properly before you leave. A fool-proof way to ensure that nothing goes wrong with your sump pump while you are away is to install one of PumpSpy’s sump pump solutions. Our products come with free 24/7 monitoring so that you can receive alerts about your sump pump straight to your phone or tablet while you’re on vacation.
- Prepare for the elements. Since you won’t know for sure what type of weather will occur while you’re gone, there are a few things you can do to prepare your home for the elements. First, make sure your gutters are cleared of any debris, which will prevent water from pooling around the base of your home. Have your roof inspected, and fix anything that needs repair before you leave.
- Adjust the temperature in your house. Set your thermostat to more closely reflect the temperature outside. If you’re leaving in the winter, set your thermostat below 68 degrees, but no lower than 60 to avoid pipes freezing. In the summer, set your thermostat to around 78-80 degrees. Setting your thermostat higher/lower will help save on energy costs while you’re away.
- Arrange for someone to check on your house. If possible, it’s always a good idea to have someone that you’re close to check on your house while you’re away. They should pick up any mail/packages that are delivered, and check to make sure nothing has changed inside the home.
Knowing that your home is secured while you’re away is going to make your vacation a lot more enjoyable. That’s why we highly recommend following these steps, and using PumpSpy’s sump pump solutions. You’ll be alerted of any issues that need your attention and can check the status of your pump at any time, from anywhere. Have 24/7 peace of mind that you won’t come home to a flooded basement. Once you’ve completed this checklist and properly prepared your home, you’re ready to pack your bags and head out!
