Home Preparations for Vacationing

HMP

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Odd title, apologies, let me explain/ask better:
How do you prep your house for being away for a vacation?

I'll be away for almost a week and I always worry a bit being away from home, just in case something went wrong.
I figure I'll turn the valve off for the water in the closet with the water heater, make sure that the valves for the toilets are shut off too.

I'll unplug a lot, no point in the drain for a week of no use

What else?
What do you do?

Ive got great neighbors and i'll let them know to keep an eye out too
 
Odd title, apologies, let me explain/ask better:
How do you prep your house for being away for a vacation?

I'll be away for almost a week and I always worry a bit being away from home, just in case something went wrong.
I figure I'll turn the valve off for the water in the closet with the water heater, make sure that the valves for the toilets are shut off too.

I'll unplug a lot, no point in the drain for a week of no use

What else?
What do you do?

Ive got great neighbors and i'll let them know to keep an eye out too

Why would you needto turn off the toilets if you turn off the main water valve in your closet?
 
Dont forget to post on FB when you are going, where you are going, and how long you will be gone. It really helps out the burglars. :D

I never post on social media where I am until Im on the way back.
Sometimes I'll post while Im there, but it's just too vague to know where I am.

Which, I did post I was going...back in February. So someone would know ONE DAY that I will be in this other city, but how far before or after that day...nah. Only a few know that and those are close friends and family.
 
and start the washer and dishwasher the seconds before you leave.
I also figured I'd pop a load of clothes in the dryer, not cleaning the lint trap, before leaving too ;)
 
I never post on social media where I am until Im on the way back.
Sometimes I'll post while Im there, but it's just too vague to know where I am.

Which, I did post I was going...back in February. So someone would know ONE DAY that I will be in this other city, but how far before or after that day...nah. Only a few know that and those are close friends and family.
You do know there are ways for "them" to know where you are when you post.

Geotagging or some such.
 
turn thermostat up (78 if it's summer, 60 if it's winter)
turn water heater breaker off
have someone get my mail
close main water shut-off almost completely - I leave it open just enough to keep pressure in the lines
sometimes I'll put a couple lights on timers to go on and off at different times of night
 
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I never post on social media where I am until Im on the way back.

But you did here, in advance? Or are you back and you'll step into a time machine to prep the home before you leave... o_O

If you turn the water off also turn down the water heater to pilot. I didn't one time and it created a lot of air in the line. Don't know why but it was obvious air in the hot side.
 
Dont forget to post on FB when you are going, where you are going, and how long you will be gone. It really helps out the burglars. :D
Never have understood why people do this. Why not tell them there is a spare key hidden under a rock too. :confused:
 
Tell my sister in law when I'm leaving. She's happy to house sit our house.
 
Hot water breaker off.
Cut water off at the street. Release water pressure at sink.
Turn on a couple lights on each level.
Unplug every small appliance.
Check and recheck for hair straightens and curling irons unplugged.
Neighbors do walk around a couple times a week or kids if they are not coming.
 
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I honestly nothing except making sure not to have clothes or dishwasher running. I control thermostat by phone and your better to leave water heater alone is what my pops has always said.
 
Turn water off at street, drain pipes in winter, unplug everything except a few lamps which are on timers. I also notify the alarm company. Stuff like that. Stop mail and newspaper delivers. I also load the car the night before in the dark. I have had my home burglarized before. So I’m paranoid about others seeing I’m leaving.
I also tend to cram the gunsafe with everything that has monetary and sentimental value.
 
Hot water breaker off.
Cut water off at the street. Release water pressure at sink.
Turn on a couple lights on each level.
Unplug every small appliance.
Check and recheck for hair straightens and curling irons unplugged.
Neighbors do walk around a couple times a week or kids if they are not coming.
Ha! You posted dang near exactly what I was typing while I was typing my response !:D
 
Turn water off at street, drain pipes in winter, unplug everything except a few lamps which are on timers. I also notify the alarm company. Stuff like that. Stop mail and newspaper delivers. I also load the car the night before in the dark. I have had my home burglarized before. So I’m paranoid about others seeing I’m leaving.
I also tend to cram the gunsafe with everything that has monetary and sentimental value.
I never thought of the loading vehicles at night. My wife is anal about the perfect pack which happens after we should have left an hour before. I remember a co-worker lived in a nice neighborhood where a couple teens broke into a half dozen homes where they knew the whole family were on vacation. All the victims knew the two boys and never suspected them. I think a storage rental employee turned them in.
 
turn thermostat up (78 if it's summer, 60 if it's winter)
turn water heater breaker off
have someone get my mail
close main water shut-off almost completely - I leave it open just enough to keep pressure in the lines
sometimes I'll put a couple lights on timers to go on and off at different times of night

We leave for a month each year and I second this but I use USPS to hold my mail. Super easy and they deliver it after the hold date. We also use smart light timers and have a security system with temp updates and motion.
 
Cut the water off to the house, still have a faucet on the well house for my friend to water the dogs with. Leave a lamp on.
Get all the guns up I normally leave strewn around in little hidey holes and put them in safe
Drink last beer in the fridge and put the bottle back so when someone breaks in and tries to drink my beer, they’re disappointed.
Leave sticky notes laying around with obscenities on them for whoever goes in my house to read. Then remember I live in a mobile home and none of my preps matter
 
You can go online and have the PO stop delivery of mail for the time you will be gone. We have it started back on the day we are returning. Not much more to add to the above.
 
I shut the water off to the washer, last time clued me in to a bulged hose. Everything else is plumbed recently with plastic tube, no worries of flooding. I will start killing the water heater, it's electric. Unplug things, put a lamp on a timer. Lock up all the stuff.

Ask neighbor to watch chickens, shoot horses, he never manages the latter. These are why the water stays on. Longer trips he'll grab the mail. We do the same for him, minus horses.
 
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You do know there are ways for "them" to know where you are when you post.

Geotagging or some such.
Only if you click that button. You can not post where you are when posting
 
Agree on turning off the water, even if we go away for an overnight, our neighbor returned home to find six inches of water on the first floor, toilet valve in second floor bathroom came off the stub flooding part of 2nd and all of first, they had recently remodeled the kitchen and new hardwoods on first floor.

I also put a table lamp in the master bathroom on a timer to run when you normally take the morning shower.
We have alarm with CPI and NEST outdoor camera.
 
I don’t feed the moat gators for a week before I leave. Make sure all the auto guns in the ramparts are greased and fully loaded. Motion sensor driven boiling oil pots are full. Extra bowmen on the ramparts.



Well, that’s what I’d LIKE to do, anyway :D
 
Put a padlock in your garage door track so it can't be opened, and unplug your garage door opener so you don't forget about the lock and try to open it when you get home.
 
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Put a padlock in your garage door track so it can't be opened, and unplug your garage door opener so you don't forget about the lock and try to open it when you get home.

Now there's a good idea I have never heard before!
 
I pack up the safe with electronics and the wifes jewelery. If its a few day trip, Ill usually hit the wwter heaters breaker off. Always pull power on the garage door opener, and throw the manual lock on it..
 
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