Labor Day Weekend is finally here! For Michiganders, that means heading “up north” and taking one last summer vacation. So, how do you keep your home secure while you’re away?
It’s always important to keep your home secure and safe for when you return from vacation.
Here are a few extra tips to help keep your home safe while you’re gone:
- Newspaper and Mail
A sure sign of being on vacation is newspapers and mail piling up outside your home. If you’re going to be gone longer than a couple of days, it’s a good idea to tell a neighbor or family member know you’ll be gone on vacation and have them pick up your mail for you. You can also arrange for your local post office to hold your mail for you while you’re gone on vacation.
2. Lights
Even if your home is temporarily empty because you’re on vacation, that can be a target for theft. An empty home is an easy target for a break in. The best way to make your home look lived in is to adding timed lights to your home while your away. Timed lights can mimic your daily activity and make your home still look like it’s being lived in.
3. House Sitter
If you’re going to be gone longer than a couple of days consider using someone you trust as a house sitter. Your trusted house sitter can take care of your mail, make your home look lived in, and aid in preventing a break-in. You can leave your pets at home and have the house sitter take care of them too!
4. Utility Expenses
Another unwanted surprise can be an expensive utility bill even when you weren’t living in your home. Turn off your water heater, unplug appliances, and shut off water. Shutting off your water can prevent your from unexpected leaks and floods. Don’t waste energy that no one is using or able to feel. There’s no point in running you heating and cooling system if no one is home. If you have a programmable thermostat, change it to away mode or turn your temperature up or down 4 degrees according to what would be the most energy efficient. These simple steps help save you money and also help keep your home safe while you’re enjoying your vacation.
All of us at Holland Heating and Cooling wish you a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! Enjoy your extra day off and the exciting trips you have planned!
