You may think that leaving your home to go on vacation is as simple as locking up all the doors and turning off the lights, but there is more to it than that. A lot can happen to your home while you’re away, and we’re not just talking about break-ins and storm damages. You need to get your home ready before you head out the door, especially if you don’t want to run up a huge energy bill or come home to frozen plumbing. While that may sound alarming, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Just follow these four simple tips before leaving on vacation.
Set the AC to 85 Degrees
Since there will be nobody in your home for the next few days or weeks, you don’t have to worry about keeping it cool. You shouldn’t turn off your air conditioner completely, however. Keeping it on will help regulate the humidity in your home and keep mold from growing. Set the temp to 85 degrees to ensure that your home stays in good condition without running up your energy bill.
Get a Surge Protector
Power surges can happen even when you’re not home. Your HVAC will most definitely still be on, as you might leave some lights on while you’re away. Invest in a surge protector to make sure that everything is working properly when you get back home.
Make Sure All Appliances are Turned Off
This sounds like common sense, but you should make sure everything is turned off before you leave for your trip. A lot of appliances and modern electronics have a habit of staying on even when they appear to be turned off, which can run up your electric bill faster than you may realize. Make a final sweep through your home and unplug or turn off anything that doesn’t need to be on when you’re not home.
Leave a Few Lights On
If you’re only going to be gone for a day or two, leave a few emergency lights on to make it look like you’re home. This will deter any would-be burglars from breaking in. You can even invest in a timer that will turn on some of the lights in your home at certain times if you don’t want to leave your lights on for days or weeks on end.
Contact Sea Coast Air Conditioning & Heating for More Advice
Since your HVAC system is a vital piece of your home, you should expect it to be in full working order when you return from a great vacation. Contact Sea Coast Air Conditioning & Heating if you have any questions about how to best care for your home’s AC system. Our company has served Florida’s Treasure Coast for decades, and our professional technicians can help you whenever you need your home ready for your arrival.
