Don’t worry about your home while you’re away! Before you leave for a well-earned vacation, run through this simple checklist to make sure everything in your home is in good working order and stays that way while you’re gone.
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Don’t worry about your home while your away! Check Your Faucet for Drips
Before heading out the door, make sure that no faucet is dripping. Drips over the course of a few weeks are incredibly wasteful, especially in areas where water is scarce. Not to mention it could add a few unnecessary extra dollars to your water bill.
- Clean Your Garbage Disposal
Sometimes we forget about what we can’t see, and the inside of the garbage disposal is one of those things we don’t look at very often. There might be food waste stuck in there that hasn’t been flushed away. This is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for ants and flies. And if the food waste rots, you might come home to a very stinky surprise.
So right before you leave, flush the garbage disposal with a mixture of distilled white vinegar and water and let it run for a minute or so. This should get rid of any leftover gunk that’s stuck in there.
- Unplug Small Appliances to Save Electricity
Why pay for electricity when you’re not using it? Even your coffee maker and phone suck up a little power when not in use. Plus, there’s something mentally freeing knowing that only necessary items are still plugged in.
So unplug everything that doesn’t absolutely need to stay plugged in. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save!
- Program Your Thermostat With a High & Low Temperature
Even in temperate areas like Maryland, it’s a good idea to set a high and low range on your thermostat at all times, even when you’re not around. Certain building materials can’t tolerate extreme heat and humidity, and you’d be doing them and who knows what other things in your home a disservice by letting your home become a sweatbox while you’re gone.
- Set Your Water Heater to Vacation Mode
Most people don’t think about this one, but it makes sense. You don’t need hot water when you’re not home, so why not save some money by turning your water heater down?
Experts don’t recommend turning off your water heater entirely. Most new water heaters are equipped with Vacation Mode. Just put the water heater in Vacation Mode before you leave to run your water heater at a lower temperature and save on energy.
If your water heater doesn’t have Vacation Mode, dial the temperature to 120 degrees. DO NOT DIAL THE TEMPERATURE ANY LOWER. Temperatures lower than 120 degrees can cause bacteria to grow inside your water heater. Your water heater’s manual should have recommended settings.
- Turn Your Water Off OR Call Ensor Plumbing for a Leak Defense System
Turn off water at the main shut-off valve. Your dishwasher, washing machine, and sinks don’t need water while you’re gone, and if a leak happens while you’re away, it can result in serious water damage.
If you need to leave your water on, or if you simply forget to shut your water off as part of your vacation preparations, a leak defense system can protect your home from damage. If a leak starts while you’re away, a leak defense system can shut off your water or notify you so you can notify a family member or friend to go to your house to shut off your water before more damage can be done. From there, Ensor Plumbing can fix the leak and get your plumbing back up and running while you’re away, so you don’t have to stress.
- Check Your Smoke Detectors
Test your smoke detectors to make sure they’re working, and make sure they all have fresh batteries.
- Set Up an Emergency Contact
Give a friend or a neighbor contact details for the services you use, such as your regular gardener or Ensor Plumbing, your family plumber, so they can get in touch easily if anything comes up.
- Join Our Diamond Club for Extra Protection
Ensor Plumbing is always here to help when you have an emergency. But your plumbing also needs regular maintenance to help it last longer. When you join our Diamond Club, Ensor will stop by once a year for important checks on your home’s plumbing. We’ll be able to catch little plumbing problems while they’re still little, so you can kick back and enjoy your time off.
Ensor Plumbing is a 3rd generation, woman-owned, family operated business serving your community since 1961! Get to know us BEFORE you have a plumbing emergency and we can help simplify your life. 410-429-4959. Or request service right here from our website. If it’s Water, It’s Ensor!