You’ve packed your bags, made sure there are snacks for the trip, and dropped off the pet at the pet sitter. Your family might be all squared away for your vacation, but is your home? Read on to see what you can do to get your home vacation-ready.
Prevent Fire Hazards
The last thing anyone imagines is coming home from a vacation to find that something happened to their home. Homeowners can help protect their home from a potential fire while they’re away by doing the following:
- Unplugging electronics — if an electronic is not needed to stay plugged in while you’re away, you can take the precaution by unplugging it. This not only helps save you on your energy bill but also lowers the risk of an electrical fire.
- Look at your heat sources — if you will be running your furnace while away, make sure nothing is close to that heat source. Make sure vents are clear of any clothing or other items and never have a space heater running if you are not home (this is whether you’re going on vacation or not!)
- Identify fire risks in your home — in addition to never leaving home (even for a few minutes) with a space heater on, the same goes for candles. While these two can be causes common for household fires, take a look around your home prior to you walking out of it for a vacation to see what else could be a potential fire hazard. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and if you can take any precaution to avoid a fire, make the extra effort to do so.
Vacation Mode
Many household items have a vacation mode that you can set while you’re away. This includes the thermostat, water heater, and lights.
Most thermostats and water heaters have a vacation mode setting that you can set before you walk out the door. Newer models even have apps that you can monitor from the convenience of your phone! Not only does setting these devices to a vacation mode give you peace of mind that everything is OK at home, but it helps save money on your energy bill.
Lights can be programmable as well, whether on an app or a plug-in timer. This also helps save on your energy bill and with the lights going on and off each day, gives the appearance that someone is in your home to help ward off potential thieves.
Check Windows and Doors
Last but not least, don’t leave home without double-checking that all windows are closed, and doors are locked. This is the most significant task you can complete to ensure your home is safe from possible intruders or animals.
Contact A-TEMP Heating, Cooling & Electrical
What also should be on your to-do list before vacation — reaching out to A-TEMP Heating, Cooling & Electrical. If you notice that an electrical issue or a problem with your air conditioner or furnace arises before you take your trip, you want to reach out to our team right away. For more than 50 years, we have been serving the Portland, Oregon City, Clackamas, and surrounding areas, and we are here to help you as quickly as possible. Reach out for a service or repair today at (503) 694-3396.