5 Home Items to Check Before Leaving on Vacation

As you’re getting ready to go on vacation, whether it’s for an extended period or a couple of days, don’t forget to check certain items in your house to ensure a safe home when you return. Here are five items to check before leaving on vacation.

1. The Main Water Supply

If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, it’s a good idea to turn off your main water supply. Closing the valve on the main supply line cuts off water to the house but still allows outside sprinklers to work. In addition to turning off the water supply, shut off the pilot light on your gas line to prevent pressure surges. If you forget to turn off either, and a leak occurs, your homeowners or renter’s insurance should cover any damage.

2. Your Thermostat

Whenever you go on vacation, it’s a good idea to change the temperature on your thermostat to save energy and money. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to 29.4 degrees Celsius in the warmer months and 10 degrees Celsius during the colder months. Whatever you do, don’t turn your thermostat off: without the help of air conditioning, mold and mildew can develop if the indoor climate of your house becomes humid.

3. Perishable Food Items

There’s nothing worse than coming home to a smelly house after vacation. Remove any perishable items from your fridge that have expired, or will expire when you’re gone, to prevent odors from building up. You should also clear your counters of any fruit that will start to rot while you’re away. After you throw out your perishables, don’t forget to take the trash out to prevent bugs from infesting your home. As a final step, leave a box of baking soda in your refrigerator to neutralize all odors.

4. All Appliances

Before leaving for vacation, check your appliances for faulty wiring, leaks, or shorts. These issues could lead to electrical fires or flood damage if not properly attended to. Go around to each room of your house and ensure all the appliances are working properly. If you have a broken appliance, get it fixed as soon as possible or unplug it from its outlet if you can’t get to it before your trip. If you have time to fix the appliance, check to see if repairs are covered under your home warranty: if they are, schedule an appointment with a service technician to make the necessary repairs or replacements.

5. Your Insurance Policies

You never know what could happen when you’re away on vacation—if a natural disaster occurs or your house gets broken into, you’ll want to be prepared when you return. Ensure your car insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and any other insurance policies are up-to-date. This includes your RV and travel insurance—be sure to take these policies with you on your trip just in case something happens when you’re on the road.