As the school year winds down and temperatures heat up, many of us head out. That means leaving our home for a week or more. Gutter Helmet, the maker of the best rain gutter covers, provides these two simple checklists to help you get the essentials done before you go.
Your Inside Checklist
There are six things you should do inside your home before you head off on your summer adventure.
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Unplug non-essential electronics. First, many electronics draw power, even when off. When you don’t need them for a week, you could save a bit on your electric bill. Secondly, in the event of a power surge, devices that are disconnected from power won’t be destroyed.
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Adjust your thermostat. This is another money-saving tip. Don’t completely turn off your A/C because it not only keeps your home cool, it also helps regulate humidity in your home. A good temperature is 82 degrees.
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Add timers. Lights on timers scattered throughout your home on different schedules give the appearance that someone is home.
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Turn off your water. Few things are worse than coming home to a flooded home. If you turn off your water at the source, you’ll never have to worry about water damage while you’re away.
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Set your water heater to vacation mode. Even when you don’t use your hot water, it constantly cycles to keep the water at the temperature you set. Using vacation mode will save you money.
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Close the curtains. When you close curtains and blinds, you prevent people from peeking in your home, especially those who shouldn’t be looking in the first place. You’ll also keep your home cooler, further reducing energy usage.
Your Outside Checklist
There isn’t as much to do outside but these three things are just as important.
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Manage your mail and newspaper delivery. Piled-up newspaper and mail is a sure sign to a burglar that no one is home. Either stop your mail and newspaper, or ask a neighbor to pick it up daily.
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Take care of exterior maintenance. Things like cutting the grass, cleaning your gutters and sweeping your porch and driveway make for a well-kept home. Homes that look neglected or like no one has been home for a while are prime targets for burglars. If you’re going to be gone more than a week, arrange for someone to cut grass while you’re gone. Another reason to make sure to take care of your home’s exterior is if you live in an HOA-controlled neighborhood, since uncut grass may lead to a fine.
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Give your spare key to a neighbor. This will let your neighbor know you’re not home and give them a way in should there be a need. Plus, if your spare key is “hidden” in your yard, removing it will keep out people who shouldn’t be in your home.
This list may seem like a lot of work but most tasks only take a few minutes. You can avoid having to do one of the more time-consuming tasks every time you leave if you get gutter protection from leaves installed on your home. If you are interested in learning about the many benefits of the best rain gutter covers, call Gutter Helmet today. We’ll connect you to your local dealer so you can start enjoying your vacation sooner. Reach us at (800) 824-3772.
