Last month we discussed what to do one to two weeks before your temporary move should you leave for an extended absence. To complete the checklist, we’ll now cover everything you need to know the final days leading up to your vacation. Our main goal for this article is to cover the essential tasks that will keep your home safe and worry-free when away for weeks or months at a time.
In the yard
A few days before leaving, empty kiddie pools, birdbaths, buckets, anything that has standing water to avoid unwanted critters and mosquitoes. Water fountains can be left circulating, if unnecessary, can be emptied and turned off. Don’t drain the hot tub. Summer heat can damage the interior. Turn off the water heater while leaving the filter running. Cover or store any outdoor furniture that will be destroyed by summer storms and sun. Remove anything plastic, cloth, or wood from the yard before leaving.
Keep regular landscaping maintenance going so as not to tip off any passers-by that the homeowner is absent. The same goes for the pool. Keep up regular maintenance to not come back to a green pool.
In the garage
If a vehicle stays behind, disconnect the battery to prevent it from draining while you’re away. This practice extends the battery life, so upon return, you can reconnect it and still have similar to equal battery life left. In warmer climates, remove propane tanks and flammable items from the garage and place them somewhere with cooler temperatures. No one wants to come home to an explosion, so this is an excellent thing for peace of mind.
In the kitchen
To keep and moisture critters away, store boxed foods, like cereal and grains, and any baking products or pet food in containers or plastic bags. Seal everything tightly. Remember to clear everything from the fridge that is perishable. Some homeowners will even clear out the whole fridge and turn it off before leaving for less energy usage during their extended leave. If you do decide to keep the refrigerator on to store condiments and other not-soon-to-expire items, then add some water bottles in the fridge to have it use less energy to keep things cold.
If turning off the refrigerator, leave doors open for better circulation. If you’ve ever smelled a fridge after sitting for three months closed, you probably won’t make that mistake again.
Around the house - the day of
It would be best if remembered to unplug anything electrical that doesn’t need to require use. Items to turn off before you go include appliances, computers, lights, anything that plugs into the wall or use the checklist below:
Remember to turn these items off:
Appliances
Air conditioning: set it to a temperature that makes sense for what’s left in your home; if you have collectibles that can be damaged by high heat, consider keeping it on and just setting it to 90 or 95 degrees.
Ceiling fans
Hot tub heating system
Ice maker
Main house water: drain faucets, shower head extensions, and flush toilets.
The natural gas main valve
Water heater
Unplug the garage door opener as you leave.
Taking off for a few months shouldn’t come with added stress. By following these instructions, you should be able to close up your home for summer or an extended period without worrying about coming back to any unwanted surprises.
Aardvark Movers Inc., a Phoenix Arizona moving company, has the most experienced movers for all your residential, office or apartment relocation needs. We serve Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Surprise, Sun City, Paradise Valley, Apache Junction, Maricopa County and all of Arizona. 602-716-5555.
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