4 Ways to Prepare Your Home Before a Vacation

The weather is getting cold and with the post Holiday blues starting to hit, many of us may be dreaming about relaxing and spending some time in warmer weather.  As you plan your dream vacation, whether it is in sunny Florida or simply a trip to Northern Michigan, don’t forget to also plan for your home while you are gone.

While you are away, a few simple preparations can help you to save energy, money, and keep your home safe.

Ask a neighbor to check on the home

This is important if you will be gone for an extended period of time.  Having someone check on the home can ensure that the heat is still running and that no pipes have frozen and burst.

Turn the water heater down

Since no one will need a hot shower while you are away, you can turn the temperature of the water heater down to help save some energy.

Turn the heat down

There is no need to heat an empty home, so you can go ahead and turn that thermostat down.  However, make sure that you do not turn the heat down further than 55 degrees Fahrenheit in order to prevent pipes from freezing.  With a digital thermostat from Bryant with Wifi capabilities, you can even  set the thermostat to warm up from your smartphone so you have a warm house to enter when you get home.

Shut the chimney flue

It is a good practice to always shut the chimney flue after using the fireplace in order to not let cold air in and warm air escape, but it can be easy to forget to do.  Just check before you leave on vacation to make sure that you do not lose any extra energy out the chimney.

For more information about energy saving practices, contact FLAME!