5 Money Saving Vacation Preparations

Are you heading out of town this summer?  Taking a flight cross country or maybe just driving up to a cottage for a few days?  Most people have spent the past year and a half sticking fairly close to home, so now that it is safer for us to stretch our wings a bit more, many of us are chomping at the bit.

It’s amazing how much work goes into planning a trip.  For a time that is supposed to be relaxing, there is a lot of prior work to make it happen.  Vacation preparations can include the following…

• Buying tickets and making reservations
• Packing
• Calling a kennel or pet sitter
• Arranging lawn care or someone to water the flowers
• Clearing out the fridge
• Emptying the garbage

this list goes on and on….

The last thing we want to do is add more stress to your trip prep.  The following vacation preparations should reduce your worries by giving you the peace of mind of saving money at home while you enjoy your time away.

Money Saving and Energy Efficient Vacation Preparations

1. Adjust the thermostat before leaving

The best thing to do is try and adjust your home’s indoor temperature to closely match the outdoor temperature as much as possible without causing damage to any plants, furniture, or animals in the home. Please note, during the winter months you never want the house to dip below 60 degrees or so in order to prevent the freezing of pipes.

2. Change the hot water heater setting

While away on vacation, do not waste money heating the water in your home.  Turn the heater’s temperature down, or set the hot water heater on a “vacation” setting if it has one.

3. Unplug electronic devices

Many electronic devices still carry phantom loads–they continue to use electricity while plugged in while–even if they are turned off.  Unplugging devices such as televisions, microwaves, and coffee makers will help to save you money, reduce fire hazard risks, and keep your electronics protected in the event of a power outage and power surge while you are gone.

4. Put household lights on timers

For the safety of your home, it is always a good idea to leave a light or two on while you are gone to dissuade intruders.  Nationwide Insurance even recommends using a motion-activated outdoor lighting to prevent burglars.  However, keeping a light turned on 24/7 while you are gone is a waste of energy and money.  Instead, strategically use timers in order the light up a few lights around your home once the sun sets.

5. Check for Drippy Faucets

Before leaving, do a double check to make sure that all of your faucets are turned all the way off and there aren’t any toilets still running.  While seemingly little, this water waste can really make your water bill spike.

Now that all of the items on your list are checked off, it’s time to relax and enjoy yourself.  Have a safe trip!

For more information about making money saving and energy efficient choices for your home, contact us at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical!