Before Going on Vacation

Being away from home for an extended period of time can be an invitation to disaster. A vacant home is an easy mark for a burglar to scoop up your valued possessions. But a thief isn't the only threat to your home while you are away.

Being away from home for an extended period of time can be an invitation to disaster. A vacant home is an easy mark for a burglar to scoop up your valued possessions. A thief isn't the only threat to your home while you are away. Many people return from vacation to find their home flooded from a burst pipe, or worse, burned due to a faulty appliance.

With a bit of preventive planning, you can rest easy during your vacation knowing that your home sweet home will be as you left it. And, you should even be able to save a few bucks while away.

There are some vacation basics of which most are aware, but they need to be reviewed now and again. First, don't make your absence obvious. Don't allow mail or newspapers to pile up on the front porch. And by all means, don't leave the garbage cans in the street for a week.

Ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your place while you are away and to gather your mail and newspapers. Also, have someone put out the trash on the appointed day and retrieve the cans promptly. If a friend or neighbor is not available to lend a hand while you are away, contact your local post office and newspaper to request that delivery be suspended until your return. Garbage collection should be canceled as well in that circumstance.

One proven means of discouraging a prowler is to make your home appear to be occupied. Place one or more lamps or lights on timers that turn on and off at various times throughout the night. It also helps to have ample lighting at all entry points around the house such as the front porch, garage and rear patio door. Exterior lighting operated by motion sensors, timers or photoelectric switches can help keep your utility bill down. In addition, consider plugging a radio into a timer that is programmed to turn on and off at various times throughout the day and evening.

If your home has an alarm system, be sure to activate it before you depart. Also, if the system is monitored, advise the monitoring company of your absence to ensure that they will immediately summon the police should the alarm be activated. If the alarm system is not monitored, ask a neighbor to immediately call the police if the alarm should sound.

Prior to going out the door for the last time, take one final walk throughout the house to make sure that all windows and doors are securely latched and locked. Swinging doors should be double bolted and sliding windows and doors should have a secondary latch. A wooden dowel placed in the window track can prevent most sliding windows from being opened.

A broken water pipe or a faulty appliance can wreak more havoc than even a burglar. A broken water pipe can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage by flooding the crawl space, basement and rooms of the home. The spark from a faulty appliance can trigger a house fire that can consume much of your home before fire fighters can arrive.

One of the most effective means of preventing a flood is to turn off the main water source to the home. However, this often is not practical because it prevents the landscape irrigation system from keeping the yard watered. If you have such a system, turn off valves at all of the fixtures to significantly diminish the prospect of a flood.

Unlike the water system, the electricity must remain on to power the refrigerator, freezer, alarm, irrigation system and security lighting. However, heating systems and air-conditioning systems can be turned off to save money and, more important, to prevent a potential fire. Small appliances such as a toaster, mixer, food processor, stereo and television should be unplugged while you are away. And don't forget to unplug the motor for the garage door opener. This is further protection against unauthorized or accidental opening of your garage.

Devices that use natural gas or propane can be dangerous when left unattended for extended periods of time. Thus, gas appliances such as a water heater, furnace or oven should be shut off by turning the gas off at the meter or supply tank. Most local utility companies will come out to turn the gas back on and relight pilots when you return.

Finally, be sure to have someone reliable to care for your precious pets (if they're not boarded) and houseplants.

Plants can be placed in a central location such as a bathtub or shower, to make watering easier for your friend or neighbor.

See more weekly projects in the Security and Shutdown category!