Remember to unplug any charging cables as well. They still pull electricity, even when there’s not a device hooked up to them. Don’t unplug your fridge unless you want to come home to a nasty odor!
If you’re leaving during the winter when it’s expected to get below freezing, just pour a little antifreeze in the toilet bowl—it’ll keep the tank from bursting if your heat goes out. Use marine antifreeze, which is nontoxic. And make sure you drip your faucets to keep the pipes from freezing while you’re gone.
Check what the average outside temps will be so you know how to set your thermostat. For example, if the average temp while you’re gone is going to be 85 °F (29 °C), you might set your thermostat somewhere between 75 and 80 °F (24 and 27 °C). When you’re leaving in the winter, don’t set your thermostat below 55 °F (13 °C) to keep your pipes from freezing. [5] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source If you’ve got a programmable thermostat, you’re in luck! They usually have a built-in “vacation mode” you can use. Some even let you set the dates so your house will be back at a comfortable temperature the moment you return.
If you have a newspaper subscription, go ahead and put delivery of that on hold too. If the newspaper doesn’t offer a pause on delivery, just cancel and then re-subscribe when you get back. A pile of newspapers in the driveway or in front of your door is a dead giveaway that you’ve been gone for a while.
Want to make sure you have plenty to eat when you get back? Try scheduling a grocery delivery for the day or morning after your return. Then you won’t have to worry about it. [8] X Research source
You also don’t want to come home asking, “What’s that smell?” If you clean up before you leave, you don’t give anything a chance to go bad on you while you’re gone. Squirt a drop or two of dish soap down the drain, run some water, then turn on your garbage disposal. That way nothing’s left sitting there. Make sure you do the laundry as well. A hamper full of damp, sweaty clothes will turn into a mildewy mess by the time you return.
If you’re vacationing in the winter months, open the cabinets under the sink to allow the air to circulate around the pipes to help keep them from freezing. Keep a dehumidifier on so that there is no moisture for the growth of mold. [11] X Expert Source Mike KapurCertified Mold Assessor & Home Inspector, Sonic Home Inspections Expert Interview. 19 August 2020. Circulation of air will also prevent mold formation. [12] X Expert Source Mike KapurCertified Mold Assessor & Home Inspector, Sonic Home Inspections Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.
For example, you might have the light in the living room come on at 6 p. m. and go off at midnight. You might also have a bedroom light come on at 8 p. m. and go off a couple of hours later. If you have a TV in the living room, you might also set it to come on from 7 p. m. to 9 p. m. each evening. There’s not much point leaving lights on all the time if you don’t have timers. People will notice that your lights are on constantly and likely assume that you’re not home, since no one leaves their lights on all the time. You might get some exterior lights as well (put them on timers or get some with motion sensors). Although if you live way out in the country and don’t have any neighbors, they won’t really do you much good. Shining a spotlight on a would-be burglar is only a deterrent if there are people around to see them.
If you normally keep blinds and curtains closed, it won’t make any difference if you leave them that way. But otherwise, leave them the way you would if you were at home.
If you have deadbolt locks, throw them on all of the doors except the one you leave from. Use a bar on sliding glass doors to make sure the door can’t be forced open. If you normally leave a spare key hidden somewhere outside, bring it in before you leave. It won’t do you any good to lock everything up if there’s a key under the welcome mat!
Thieves will always take firearms if they see them, so make sure those are stored carefully and out of sight. You might consider taking them to a local gun range for safekeeping while you’re away. In a pinch, you could always give your valuables to a trusted friend or family member to hold for you until your return.
Make sure you clean or get rid of anything that might start to smell if left for a few days. Wet towels, dirty laundry, and food waste are some of your biggest culprits. Don’t forget to take out the trash as you leave—even if it’s not full! It might seem fine now, but it’ll smell pretty rotten if you leave it for a week or more. [17] X Research source
All of your precautions will only do so much without people there to see when something’s amiss. You’ll be much more secure if you know folks in the neighborhood have your back. [19] X Research source If your area has a community watch program, you might let them know you’re going out of town as well.
If you have a home security system, call and let them know you’re going to be out of town as well. Make sure they have your cell number, as well as the number of a trusted friend or neighbor in case something happens and they can’t get in touch with you. [21] X Research source
Ask your vet to recommend someone if you don’t have anyone in mind. They’re typically great sources and can point you to someone reliable and trustworthy. If you decide to hire a petsitter, do your homework! Check references and make sure you hire someone reliable who has experience handling animals like yours. Same thing for kennels—if you’re going to board your pets while you’re away, check the kennel’s references and certifications.
If you have a neighbor with a teenager, you might pay them to mow your yard while you’re gone. You could also hire a lawn care service to come and take care of it. This isn’t just important in the summer! If you’re vacationing in the winter, have someone on tap to shovel your driveway if it snows.
Having a house sitter also means you don’t have to worry as much about doing a lot of cleaning before you leave, adjust the thermostat, or turn off the water. There are house-sitting services you can hire if you don’t know anyone personally. If you’re going to use a service, though, check reviews carefully and make sure they’re reputable and trustworthy. You might even talk to some people who’ve used them before.
