Community Forums

Thor 37GT · 05-09-2017, 12:35 PM

When going on vacation for more than 2 weeks how do you leave your house.

Do you leave the ac or heater on?
Do you turn the water to the house off?
Do you winterize it like a cabin in the winter?
Do you turn off the hot water heater?
Do you turn off all power and water?
Do you use a air compressor to blow out the water lines?

Ive always done a week or two vacation but I'm getting closer to 3 weeks or more.

My hot water heater has a vacation mode of 14 days so it was easy to set and I just turned the water off. I just installed a thermostat that works through my cell phone and it has a vacation mode too.

My question is what do you do?

Lifemember · 05-09-2017, 12:43 PM

1. turn off water at meter
2. turn off water heaters
3. air left on turned stat to 80 degrees.
4. stop mail service.
5. have lawn service mow lawn.
6. turn on alarm.

Dupdyke · 05-09-2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor 37GT

When going on vacation for more than 2 weeks how do you leave your house.

Do you leave the ac or heater on?
Do you turn the water to the house off?
Do you winterize it like a cabin in the winter?
Do you turn off the hot water heater?
Do you turn off all power and water?
Do you use a air compressor to blow out the water lines?

Ive always done a week or two vacation but I'm getting closer to 3 weeks or more.

My hot water heater has a vacation mode of 14 days so it was easy to set and I just turned the water off. I just installed a thermostat that works through my cell phone and it has a vacation mode too.

My question is what do you do?

Just what you did and then park and get a chair and a beer enjoy

RayDK · 05-09-2017, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor 37GT

When going on vacation for more than 2 weeks how do you leave your house.

Do you leave the ac or heater on?
Do you turn the water to the house off?
Do you winterize it like a cabin in the winter?
Do you turn off the hot water heater?
Do you turn off all power and water?
Do you use a air compressor to blow out the water lines?

My question is what do you do?

1. AC on, set at 80 - or - Heat on, set at 55
2. Water service on but hoses to washing machine turned off
3. Lights inside and outside on timers
4. I make sure rarely used plumbing 'P' traps are filled with water
5. If summer, sprinklers set for 3 day program
6. Doors, windows, shed, shop locked
7. Hot Tub temperature turned down
8. Newspaper on hold
9. Mail on hold
10. Car left visible in driveway

brobox · 05-09-2017, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor 37GT

When going on vacation for more than 2 weeks how do you leave your house.
I live in FL so all answers are for summer conditions.
Do you leave the ac or heater on? A/C yes, heat no.
Do you turn the water to the house off? YES
Do you winterize it like a cabin in the winter? No
Do you turn off the hot water heater? yes
Do you turn off all power and water? power no, need that for the A/C. Water yes, broken pipes can really do some damage
Do you use a air compressor to blow out the water lines? NA

Ive always done a week or two vacation but I'm getting closer to 3 weeks or more.

My hot water heater has a vacation mode of 14 days so it was easy to set and I just turned the water off. I just installed a thermostat that works through my cell phone and it has a vacation mode too. I also installed a wifi thermostat so I can control and monitor the humidity, a killer in FL.

My question is what do you do?

I also installed 4 wifi security/monitoring cameras so I can see the condition of my yard and pool. Are they being taken care of? Also if we have a hurricane I can survey the situation if my neighbors needed to evacuate. The cameras really make it nice for monitoring the house while you are away.

Podivin · 05-09-2017, 01:11 PM

We wave to the house as we drive away.

We have four cats in the house, so climate control stays at it's normal levels.
Neighbors come over twice a day to check on the animals and the house, pick up the mail and any deliveries.

MRUSA14 · 05-09-2017, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podivin

We wave to the house as we drive away.

We have four cats in the house, so climate control stays at it's normal levels.
Neighbors come over twice a day to check on the animals and the house, pick up the mail and any deliveries.

Wow, great neighbors!

Thor 37GT · 05-09-2017, 01:22 PM

I wish we had good neighbors. We just got new ones and Ive tried several times to talk with them and be neighborly,but nothing has worked. I tell my wife its because they are young and only know how to talk threw texting and not face to face.

Podivin · 05-09-2017, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

Wow, great neighbors!

Yes they are!
We do the same for them when they are gone - it all works out.
As far as we neighbors are concerned, that's what being a neighbor IS.

Thor, your wife could be on to something. Get their cell phone number, then go home and text them to see if they are able to help you out?

Thor 37GT · 05-09-2017, 01:58 PM

The last neighbor we had was like what you have we would talk all the time, but these young people are different. I just gave up.

Unplanned Tourist · 05-09-2017, 02:17 PM

We live in a very quiet and remote small subdivision of 15 five acre lots. Good neighbours and we look after each other. We try to get together 4 or 5 at a time for a meal and a few drinks when we are home to discuss how everything is going. That way we can look after each other's place and animals when we are away.
Our house is always open so when someone is out for a walk they can just pop in and say hi to our cat and give him a little food. We haven't locked our doors for 38 years.

Nowabeachbum · 05-09-2017, 03:20 PM

How do you leave your house?

With a tip of my hat and a hardy hi ho silver away!

I might also turn off the water, cut the power to everything that isn't necessary and raise or lower the thermostats depending on the season!

SpaceNorman · 05-09-2017, 03:26 PM

We usually just make a list of reminders for my adult son (age 26) that still lives in our home ... and wave as we drive off.

It's the only benefit I get from owning a kid at this point ... so I make the most of it!

Oh ... and we of course talk to Penny (our "watch neighbor") who knows all and sees all when it comes to stuff going on in the neighborhood. I programmed my # into her speed dial and have given her strict instructions if it looks like my kid might be having a party, I'm to be called immediately! I consider this a "two stage" security system.

Unplanned Tourist · 05-09-2017, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceNorman

We usually just make a list of reminders for my adult son (age 26) that still lives in our home ... and wave as we drive off.

It's the only benefit I get from owning a kid at this point ... so I make the most of it!

Oh ... and we of course talk to Penny (our "watch neighbor") who knows all and sees all when it comes to stuff going on in the neighborhood. I programmed my # into her speed dial and have given her strict instructions if it looks like my kid might be having a party, I'm to be called immediately! I consider this a "two stage" security system.