Going Away? Keep House OK with These Tips

by Thomas Kraeutler

The holiday brings many visits with friends and family, and cold weather means vacation time for a lot of us. If you are planning a trip this winter, plan to take care of your house while you are away. Whether you are going for an overnight jaunt or an extended stay, protecting your house is well worth the time.

Empty homes can be damaged by pipe breaks and fires, and they can be easy prey for burglars. Take these steps to make your house vacation-ready, and enjoy your time away with fewer worries.

Lock Up

While this might seem obvious, many people forget to lock up the house completely. This means making sure the windows are latched shut, the doors bolted and all the curtains drawn. Remember, a thief is just as comfortable using your window for access as you are using the front door. If you have a sliding glass door, cut a two-by four to fit the inside track and prevent the door from opening if the latch is broken.

 

Stop Mail

Piles of mail at the front door are a sure sign no one is paying attention to the house. Have the post office stop your mail and have the newspaper stopped too. Better yet, ask a neighbor to pick up the mail while you're away. The fewer people that know you are gone the better, but a little activity caused by picking up the mail may deter intruders.

 

Leave Lights On

One of the best ways to create the illusion of activity in the house is by having lights on. Purchase at least two plug-in timers and set them up to run on different cycles. For example, have one light on in the living room from dark to about 11pm and then leave another light on in the bedrooms from about 9pm until 1am.

 

Notify Police

Most police departments keep a "vacant house list". Call your local police department and let them know you'll be away. They will take some important information from you to help keep an eye on your home. For example, they may ask you if there will be any cars on the property while you are away. If they drive by and notice a car in the driveway that's not supposed to be there, they'll know to check the house to be sure everything is OK.

 

Power Down

Electrical fires can start in an appliance that's off just as easily as in one that's on. Unplug all of your small appliances like toasters, televisions and stereos while you are away. In fact, you can even turn off just about every non essential circuit breaker for maximum safety. If you go away often, you may want to code your electric panel by marking every breaker that can be turned off. For example, why have the kitchen counter outlets on, if your are not using them? Just be careful not to turn off any essential circuits like the one for the furnace, refrigerator or smoke detectors.

 

 

Heat On

Set the thermostat no lower than 60 degrees while you are away. Keeping the heat on is essential to prevent frozen pipes or radiators that can leak and cause extensive damage.

 

Water Off

In most cases, you can turn your water off at your main valve to prevent a leak in the event of a frozen pipe or broken hose. Some people will "winterize" their house when they go away by draining all the plumbing pipes and installing anti-freeze. This is usually not necessary, unless you will be away for several months. If the home is winterized, leave the heat on 55 degrees to prevent moisture damage from the cold that can make doors buckle and wallpaper fall off.

Tom Kraeutler is a hands-on home improvement broadcast journalist and the kind of guy homeowners want to call at midnight when their basement floods. He earned his home improvement stripes as a professional home inspector, amassing over 20 years experience learning how houses are put together, and how they fall apart! Tom appears regularly on CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV and the DIY Network. He's a columnist for House Beautiful and do! Magazine and his work has been featured in Smart Money, Reader's Digest and in hundreds of daily newspapers across the nation.