Tips for Leaving Home During Spring Break
Planning a vacation for any length of time should involve a plan to keep your home safe while you are away. There are many ways to do this which will help save energy and don’t require hiring a house sitter. If you’re planning a Spring Break trip this year, here’s a suggested checklist of things to do before you leave.
- Check all appliances and electronic devices. Make sure all electronics have been turned off and are unplugged, such as televisions, printers and computers. Check your faucets and washer hoses to see if everything has been properly shut off. Even a small drip from a faucet will add up over an extended period of time.
- Set your thermostat accordingly. Depending on the current weather, you’ll want to set your thermostat for the best energy settings. Use the vacation setting if you have a programmable thermostat so that your home will be at comfortable temperatures when you return. If your programmable thermostat doesn’t have a vacation setting, keep the thermostat at consistent energy-saving temperatures throughout the day.
- Turn down your water heater thermostat. Many homeowners forget this important step when they go away for a vacation. Lowering your water heater thermostat even 15 degrees will save a lot of energy while you are away, particularly if you have a traditional tank water heater. Check your owner’s manual, or give us a call if you aren’t sure where to locate your water heater thermostat or the best temperature to keep it at while you are on vacation.
- Remove perishables from your refrigerator. Once you’ve removed any perishables from your refrigerator, then you can raise the temperature setting to help save energy. Make sure you don’t set it too high, however. Consult your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended settings.
- Close and lock all windows. If your home is prone to moisture problems, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you close windows and that your storm doors are properly fastened or locked. Check to see if the windows are locked as well, especially ones on the ground floor.
- Ask a neighbor to watch your home. While most people leave on lights to make it look like someone is home, they often forget that a stack of newspapers or mail can indicate that no one is home. Instead of wasting energy by leaving lights on, or causing a safety hazard, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home and to bring in your mail. You can also ask the local Post Office to stop delivery for duration of your trip. If you have motion lights, make sure that the sensors are working properly.
Before you start planning your trip, make sure you’ve had your yearly HVAC maintenance check-up. During the annual visit, our technicians will inspect your HVAC system for any issues or safety concerns so that you don’t have to worry about it while you are on your Spring Break vacation.
How to Detect a Water Leak
It could start with a wet patch on your lawn or a small spike in your water bill—the tell-tale signs of a water leak, that many homeowners miss. Water leaks are not necessarily common, but they can happen to anyone and if you don’t know what signs to watch for, the leak can grow significantly worse before repairs are completed. To ensure you don’t suffer from an extensive leak and the damage it can cause, here are some easy tips for detecting a leak.
The Source of the Leak
There is one thing we can’t stress enough—keep an eye on that meter. If the meter starts moving faster than expected, there might be a leak and it’s always better to catch it in the first week or two than 3 months later when your water bill arrives.
If you do notice a spike in water consumption, here are a few places you should look when trying to detect the leak:
- Toilet - The toilet is a common source of water loss and with the humidity of the bathroom, it often goes unnoticed. To check your toilet, place some food coloring in the tank. At first, wait a few minutes to see if the water appears in your bowl. If so, it is a broken flapper. If not, flush the toilet a couple of times and make sure no water appears around the base of the tank.
- Faucets and Exposed Pipes - Do a thorough inspection of your house and look for any leaky faucets, valves, or exposed pipes. Especially in hidden areas of your home like the basement, these can often go overlooked for weeks before a leak is detected. Even a small drip from an out of the way faucet can cause sudden spikes in your water consumption.
- Checking Outside - As mentioned above, a wet patch on your lawn, especially in dry weather, is a sign of a leak. If you have a sprinkler system, it could mean a broken sprinkler head or pipe or it could be something more serious like a water main with a crack in it.
If you check all of these potential sources and still cannot find your water leak, it may be time to have someone inspect your water meter. It is possible for the water meter to leak or simply miscalculate water consumption. A water leak can cost money and over time can do a lot of damage to your home. If you suspect a leak, don’t delay—try to locate the cause as quickly as possible. If you need a professional’s advice, don’t hesitate to call us to schedule an inspection or repair.
702-577-0072
