Special prep for house while on vaca?

[Poohgirl]

I know a few people who when they go on vacation take special precautions for their house while they are away. One shuts of all the water to the house, another unplugs almost everything. I on the other hand just lock up and leave. Do you do anything special to your house when you leave for vacation?

 

[Kermit]

We unplug the TVs and computers, just in case we get struck by lightening. (We unplug the same things when we're at home and it's really stormy.) We also change the thermostat so that the heat or AC isn't running as much. That's about it.

I may start taking more important documents as a way to be prepared for a disaster. It would be nice to have them if we were unable to return home.

 

[vacanut]

I shut off the water
Clean out the fridge
Make sure I have someone lined up to feed the cat and take in the mail every day
I try to clean the house right before we leave so we come home to a clean house!

Nothing out of the ordinary!

 

[jx3smom]

I unplug most things and turn the hotwater heater down. We have cats so someone usually comes over every day to feed them and scoop the boxes. We put extra litter boxes down and extra bowls of water for them. I water my plants the day I leave, too.

 

[Sandy V.]

We also turn off the water, primarily because we have two old water heaters that need to be replaced soon, and I'm afraid of a major leak.

We unplug our televisions and computers as well, just in case there's lightning. I also make sure that there aren't any phone chargers or other appliances with "transformers" plugged in - I've heard that these can be potential fire hazards because of the heat they generate.

 

[cats7494]

Please unplug everything!!!

We learned the hard way on our honeymoon 2 years ago.
We came home to our house that had a horrible fire because we did not unplug a VCR in our family room downstairs!

 

[KimR]

I always try to do a good thorough cleaning because I absolutely hate coming back from vacation to a messy house on top of the huge pile of laundry I arleady have to do. Other than that we just unplug the computers and TVs and water the piano.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

DH handles most of that stuff, and I think he pretty much disconnects and turns off most things. I really should find out what he does, just in case I need to do it myself someday.

One thing I always do is inform the local police department when we'll be away, our cell phone numbers, a local emergency number (FIL), what lights will be on (timers), and what cars will be in the yard, as well as the fact that we haven't asked anyone to check on the house (so they know that if they see someone there, it's not our doing). I found out how well they check on the house when, in August, they interrogated my DD's friend, who had gone for a walk and decided he'd stop in and say hello. No sooner did he knock on the door, then a cop pulled into the driveway, asked him a bunch of questions, had him sit down at the picnic table while he called in his name for any priors, etc. Poor kid...he was scared to death! But it's nice to know the police are doing their jobs.

 

[CheshireVal]

If we're going somewhere where we can't take our cats (like WDW), we have a cat sitter who comes in every other day, so I kind of feel good knowing that she's looking after things and will call us if there's an emergency.

I *do* unplug the computer, turn the A/C up (or down if it's winter) to save energy, and kind of go around and pick up anything the cats will be tempted to destroy in their anger at being left alone.

 

[Poohgirl]

You all are right, I had never thought about at least unplugging the tv's and computer...That is now on my to do list.

water the piano.

 

[TEENEE]

I have the post office hold my mail. Turn the a/c up, unplug tv's & computers. I always have lights on a timer and let my neighbors know we are leaving. Please turn your water off when you leave. I found out the hard way just how easily your house can be destroyed by a simple hose. The hose on my washer broke while I was away and flooded my entire house. The water bill was high, furniture was ruined, the bottom sheet of drywall had to be replaced through the entire house. I couldn't live in my house for 2 months.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by KimR: Water the piano.

Wondered about that myself. KimR...if your plants are dying, you might want to adjust your To Do list.

 

[Jennifer S]

Nothing - my in-laws stay here with our dog whenever we go away.

If we take the dog one thing we do is set the timers on the lights.

 

[Dax]

Add another person to the Do Nothing list...

I actually have a house guest this upcoming trip...with 10 pets...yes 10.. ug: aw: you sort of need on. He is staying at the house. I have put the mail on hold(dont like my mail in the house with strangers), also the newspaper. Otherwise, created a Pug Do and Dont list on how to handle my doggies but he knows them pretty well. We are really good friends with him and his wife. He says its his vacation too....away from his wife...LOL

 

[KimR]

MaryAnnDVC!! No, my plants are just fine! Our piano has a humidity control unit that needs to have water added periodically. If it runs out and does not get replenished promptly, the pads will dry out and be ruined. It takes the piano technician to come out and replace them...so that is always on our to-do list before leaving town!

 

[Kermit]

MaryAnnDVC!! No, my plants are just fine! Our piano has a humidity control unit that needs to have water added periodically. If it runs out and does not get replenished promptly, the pads will dry out and be ruined. It takes the piano technician to come out and replace them...so that is always on our to-do list before leaving town!

Wow. I guess you do learn something new every day. We just have a Fischer Price xylophone without any sharps or flats. It's very low maintenance.

 

[MScott1851]

This is a great thread, since we leave next week!

Unplug the TV, computer, etc.
Clean out fridge.
Already killed all my plants, so that's not a problem.
Stop the paper.
Get the mail held.
Turn air up to 80.
Call the alarm company to tell them there will be NO false alarms that week.

I can't really think of anything else...I sure am glad I don't have a piano to water!

 

[Claudia1]

I always position lights in strategic areas that are on timers to reflect our normal activity.

Also, I flush every toilet right before we leave. Our young son forgot to flush when we left on vacation a few years ago and we can home to a smelly mess.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

MaryAnnDVC!! No, my plants are just fine! Our piano has a humidity control unit that needs to have water added periodically. If it runs out and does not get replenished promptly, the pads will dry out and be ruined. It takes the piano technician to come out and replace them...so that is always on our to-do list before leaving town!

Who knew?! It's probably a good thing I don't have a piano then, because I tend to kill plants.

 

[Dodie]

Thoroughly clean and catch up all laundry so I'm not faced with that upon my return.

Turn off the water to the washing machine.

Turn down the thermostat on the water heater.

Turn the furnace down or A/C up (whichever is appropriate).

Unplug all of the small appliances.

Set timers in a room in the front of the house, in the back of the house, and in a bedroom.