Jessica
The countdown is almost over, and you have just 10 more days to go before you can jet off on your vacation. If you want to have a carefree and enjoyable vacation, you should use this opportunity to prepare your house. When you’re home, you can easily monitor everything that’s going on and address issues in a timely manner. However, if you’re on vacation, things can quickly go wrong, and there won’t be much you can do until you get back. Therefore, the best solution is to be proactive and minimize the risk of issues occurring in the first place. With that in mind, here are some things you can do to prepare your home before you leave for a vacation with just 10 more days to go.
Check for Plumbing Leaks
Coming home from a vacation to a leak and expensive water damage is not the best way to conclude your vacation. If you want to avoid this scenario, make sure you check for plumbing leaks before you leave. Areas in your home where leaks are more likely to occur include kitchen and bathroom faucets, hot water tanks, washing machines, sinks, tubs, dishwashers, and more. If you want to be thorough, you should also look under the counters where there is exposed piping. It’s essential to pay attention to even the smallest leaks because they can drive up your water bill while you’re away for an extended period.
Not only that, but a small leak can become a bigger problem if left unattended, causing even more costly damage that’s costly to repair. For instance, consider a scenario where a pipe continues to leak, flooding the floor and creating moisture problems that lead to mold growth and musty smells. It’s a good idea to reach out to professional plumbing services and schedule a professional inspection. The goal is to have an expert who can quickly identify existing and potential plumbing leaks and get them fixed before you leave. With 10 more days to go before your vacation, addressing plumbing leaks should be at the top of your priority list.
Clean Your Home
When you have 10 more days to go before going on holiday, your intention should be to leave your home in the best possible condition. Even though you may have many other last-minute tasks to handle related to your vacation, such as packing your clothes, 10 more days to go gives you enough time to clean your home. Doing this before leaving ensures that you come back to a clean and inviting home. Nobody wants to come back from vacation to a messy home and roll up their sleeves to start cleaning immediately. After a restful holiday, you’re still in the mood to relax and unwind.
Another advantage of cleaning your home before leaving is that it prevents pests and bugs from infesting your home. During your cleaning activities, make sure you remove perishable foods and throw out any food that might spoil while you’re away. If your food is not safely stored, it could attract what are known as pantry pests & destructive pests that get into your food and which can be annoying to deal with. The list includes flour moths, weevils, and cockroaches. Additionally, rotten food in the kitchen can invite all sorts of bugs and flies that can be difficult to get rid of.
Giving your home a good cleaning helps prevent these unsanitary conditions in your home while you’re away. It also prevents excessive accumulation of dust and cobwebs. If you have ever wondered why vacant homes have so many cobwebs, it’s because when no one’s home, the air quickly becomes stagnant. That means dust can settle more quickly, and spiders can spin cobwebs with little interruption. You might be wondering which areas in your home to clean with 10 more days to go or less. Well, you can start by washing all the piles of dirty laundry, including sheets and lines. Your cleaning to-do list should also include vacuuming your carpeting and giving the flooring a deep clean. As mentioned, clean out the kitchen and take out the trash, though this is usually the last step. Doing all this cuts down on the work you need to do when you get back home.
Clean Your Gutters
There are many benefits of hiring your local roofing services before going on holiday. For starters, you can schedule a routine inspection to ensure your roof is in the best possible condition. Like plumbing leaks, roofing leaks can cause serious damage if left to get worse. It’s likely that you’ll come home to ugly water stains on your ceiling and walls. You can avoid this by enlisting the services of a reputable roofing contractor. While they’re at it, also enquire if they can clean your gutters to remove leaves, sticks, and debris that’s accumulated. Cleaning your gutters and getting your roof repaired are both important because it prevents water damage.
When your gutters and downspouts are clogged, this prevents rainwater from draining properly and efficiently. This results in water overflowing from your gutters, and if the water has nowhere to go, the moisture can seep into the interior while also wreaking havoc on the exterior of your home. Therefore, getting your gutters cleaned also protects your roof by preventing water from pooling, which can cause all sorts of issues. Overall, getting your home’s gutters cleaned by a professional reduces the risk of damage to your foundation and prevents pests from nesting inside blocked gutters. Doing this one simple thing with 10 more days to go before your vacation can save you money by preventing unexpected and expensive projects soon after your vacation ends.
Unplug Electrical Appliances
Have you ever had the feeling that you left your stove on well after leaving your home? This is not a good feeling to have while on your well-deserved vacation. Constant unease can ruin the entire mood of your vacation. To give yourself more peace of mind during your upcoming holiday, start by creating a checklist of all the appliances in your home. Determine which of them need to be unplugged and which ones to leave alone. Generally, there’s no need to leave appliances like your water heater plugged in because you might as well save energy while on holiday. If no one is home to use electrical appliances like TVs, radios, and computers, then you’re better off switching them off.
Besides helping to reduce your energy bills, unplugging or switching off the right appliances is critical for fire safety. There’s always the risk that a fire can break out while you’re away, meaning that electrical repair will be the least of your problems. Unfortunately, it’s not recommended to switch off your electricity at the mains, because there are some electrical appliances that need to be switched on at all times. For instance, while you can switch off non-essential items like kettles, toasters, and microwaves, it’s best to keep your freezer and fridge running to prevent food from going bad.
Ensure Your Home Has Enough Fuel
If your home uses oil for heating, you might want to ensure there’s an adequate amount of fuel in the propane cylinder before you leave. Ordering propane for your propane cylinder and stocking up means you have one less thing when you get back. This is beneficial if the weather is going to be colder when you get back. Start by calculating how much fuel oil you use each month, and make sure there’s enough fuel in the tank to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. Additionally, you should consider scheduling a professional inspection and maintenance to help improve the energy efficiency of your heating system. A more energy-efficient heating system will use less oil daily, even on colder days, compared to an inefficient one that works harder.
Clean Your Septic Tank
In any case, your septic needs to be pumped at least once every three to five years, according to Bob Vila. Otherwise, the sludge build-up in your septic tank can accumulate until it’s overflowing, at which point it causes issues like pooling water in your drain field and sewage backup. If you haven’t scheduled a septic cleaning in a long while, it’s best to get it done before going on vacation, especially if you’ll be away longer than a month. In your absence, your septic tank won’t be getting a new influx of new bacteria from your household, and the existing bacterial population might start deteriorating. In that case, hiring a septic service ensures your tank is relatively clean when you get back, thus improving its waste processing efficiency.
Inspect your HVAC
Preparing your home’s HVAC system is especially important if you’re planning a summer vacation. By taking the necessary precautions, you ensure that your home remains comfortable and habitable while you’re away. As you count down the days with 10 more days to go or less, start by changing your air filters. If you haven’t replaced your filter in a while, chances are it’s clogged. A clogged air filter restricts airflow and reduces HVAC efficiency. Therefore, leaving a clean filter behind will ensure that your home’s indoor air remains clean and it prevents air filter issues. Besides changing your air filter, it’s also a good idea to schedule a professional inspection in case there are potential HVAC repair issues that need to be addressed.
A professional and qualified HVAC technician will use their trained eye to find underlying problems with your unit that might get worse while you’re away. They will quickly perform repairs, allowing you to enjoy your vacation with the knowledge that your HVAC system is in good working condition. You can also schedule routine maintenance to boost HVAC performance and ensure your unit is operating at peak efficiency. Another way to prepare your HVAC for vacation is to seal air leaks and make sure all doors, windows, and window treatments are properly closed. This will help reduce the burden of your HVAC, making it easier to maintain the desired temperature. Speaking of temperature, you might want to consider changing the temperature of your thermostat to a more optimal one. Talk to an HVAC expert about the optimal temperature to prevent heat and moisture issues from happening.
Park Your Car in Your Garage
Your car is another valuable asset that you want to keep safe on vacation, so you don’t have to worry about it. One of the best ways to keep your car safe and secure while traveling is to install security measures, like an engine immobilizer and car alarm. These security features are great deterrents because criminals usually target easy jobs, so if you make your car harder to steal, they are less likely to persist. Additionally, make sure your car is locked in your garage, and the garage door is secure and functioning properly. To take things up a notch, be vigilant about the overall security of your home by using a CCTV system and setting timers on your lights to give it a live-in look where possible.
There’s one thing to note: An extended vacation means you won’t be able to drive your car for long. If your car is not driven for too long, it’s possible for issues to develop, such as the battery dying, the tires going flat, and the brakes rusting. Your vehicle might also need auto body repairs if the exterior gets damaged if you don’t leave your car parked under some sort of cover.
When you have 10 more days to go before your long-awaited vacation, it’s understandable to feel excited. But don’t let that excitement stop you from taking care of practical matters. As mentioned, being proactive can save you a lot of time, money, and hassle down the line. The wonderful news is that, with 10 more days to go, you have plenty of time to prepare your home. By the time you’re ready to leave, you shouldn’t have any major concerns about being away for an extended time. We hope you enjoy your vacation as much as possible, knowing that when you’re ready to come back, your home will be ready to welcome you, and hopefully, there will be no nasty surprises.
