Jessica
Planning a vacation can be exciting, and your imagination may already be at your holiday destination. However, keep in mind there are practical matters to consider before you can head off to relax and enjoy your vacation. If you’re going to be away from your home for long periods of time, you need to implement an all around home repair strategy. This helps to protect the various systems and components of your home against vulnerabilities in your absence. Your home is made up of various systems and components that keep it fully functional. The list includes your roof, HVAC system, septic system, and more. This is why implementing all around home repair projects is so crucial. Here are the top nine all around home repair projects to get done before your vacation.
Upgrade Your Security System
It’s common for people who go on vacations to start worrying about the valuables they left back at home. If your home security is not robust enough, then you need to upgrade it, so you don’t start fretting when it’s too late. You can start by having a home security system installed to ensure peace of mind when you’re away. Your home security system typically comes with a central control panel that’s linked to different electrical components. This interconnected system represents the best in home security technology and is designed to keep your home from a wide range of potential threats. After all, when you’re on vacation, intruders and burglars are not the only things you have to worry about. Your home may also face threats like fire and flooding.
The best thing about leveraging technology by installing a home security system is that you can check on your home even when you’re on vacation thousands of miles or more away. As mentioned, a home security system comprises various components, including outdoor lights, security cameras, a video doorbell, door sensors, window sensors, and glass break sensors. Make sure your outdoor security lights are well placed and illuminate all your home’s entry points. If you invest in the best technology, you can benefit from smart lights that automatically turn on when they detect movement. Besides outdoor security lights, you can also rely on security cameras to keep your home safe.
The security cameras can be connected to an app on your mobile phone, so you have access to what’s happening at your home while vacationing. Video doorbells are another type of camera that allows you to communicate with someone knocking at your door because they come with two-way audio technology. With all this in place, you can be fully confident that your home’s defense systems have been adequately repaired.
Get Any Roof Repairs Done
Your roof is constantly exposed to harsh weather elements. It can only do a good job of keeping your home protected if it’s in the best possible condition, so you can’t afford to overlook it when considering which all around home repair projects to take care of before you leave for vacation. Therefore, you may need to hire a roofing company for an inspection. Perhaps you have already noticed some warning signs you may need a roof inspection. These signs include visibly leaking water, sagging, or water stains on your walls or ceiling. Your roofing contractor will carry out a thorough inspection that can uncover even more problems. They will check the attic for proper insulation and ensure there are no signs of moisture or mold.
They will also perform an exterior inspection to check for clogged gutters, loose seams, damaged flashing, and other issues that can worsen while you’re away. When inspecting your roof, leaks, in particular, are of great concern. If it rains heavily while you’re away on an extended vacation, moisture can easily seep into your home. You may end up coming to a water-damaged environment and even mold growth. All of this can be avoided by repairing and maintaining your roof ahead of time.
Have Your HVAC Serviced
While on the subject of all around home repairs that you need to take care of before going on holiday, make sure you don’t overlook your heating and cooling system. For instance, hiring an HVAC contractor for AC repair ensures you can come back to a comfortable environment. Your HVAC contractor will inspect your system prior to your leaving. An early inspection will give you ample time to make the required repairs or maintenance tasks based on the advice of your HVAC professional. If your thermostat is malfunctioning, it’s particularly crucial that you get it sorted out. Otherwise, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. This type of thermostat is ideal when going on vacation because it enables you to set an optimal temperature.
If your HVAC system and thermostat are fully functional, you can easily maintain your indoor air quality and desired temperature while keeping your energy bill manageable. Switching off your HVAC system while you’re away is not advisable, especially in winter, where the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting increases. Instead, you can potentially lower energy costs by having your HVAC system serviced. When your system operates at peak efficiency, it consumes less energy. While at it, make sure the heating vents are clear to ensure proper circulation of conditioned air.
Have Your Septic Tank Pumped
According to Bob Vila, it’s necessary to get your septic tank pumped regularly, though the frequency varies based on household (it’s generally every three to five years). You might want to schedule septic tank pumping before going on vacation, particularly for extended vacations where you’ll be away for longer than a month. Remember, your septic tank contains a thriving ecosystem of bacteria that breaks down the solids that come with your household wastewater. Once the bacteria break down these solids, the remaining particles settle down at the bottom, where they form a sludge. Over time, the sludge at the bottom will fill up the tank and needs to be emptied to prevent overflowing.
However, the main reason why you may need septic cleaning is that the enzyme and bacteria ecosystem inside continues to thrive as long as there’s a continuous supply of waste that needs to be broken down. In addition, when you flush water down the drain or toilet, new bacteria enter the tank, helping to process your household wastewater efficiently. If you’re on vacation for too long, this dynamic comes to a stop, and wastewater processing might become inefficient and slow. To avoid this, it’s best to hire septic cleaning services to keep things efficient.
Check Your Solar Panels for Damage
If your home relies on solar power, then solar power maintenance should be a priority. A solar panel specialist will help you identify any issues, so they don’t happen while you’re away. Getting the issue fixed early is also beneficial as it helps you avoid significant repair costs. There’s also a safety aspect to checking your solar panels for damage. Keep in mind that solar panels have electrical components that can become faulty and pose a risk to your home. An experienced solar panel specialist will check the condition of your panels and recommend the best solution to any issues that are identified.
Have Any Plumbing Issues Resolved
Whether you’re vacationing in winter or summer, and regardless of where you’re visiting, you need to include your plumbing system in your all around home repair strategy. That way, you can avoid a disaster happening while you’re enjoying yourself in paradise. It’s crucial to resolve plumbing issues like pipe leaks and clogged drains beforehand. If there’s a plumbing leak, it must be fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, even the smallest leak can wreak havoc on your home while you’re away, meaning you would be coming back to an expensive water damage repair bill. Besides fixing plumbing leaks, you can also avoid water damage by turning off the main water valve, which can potentially save you money.
Another plumbing issue that you need to watch out for and fix is clogged drains. If you have clogs in your drains, professional clogged drain repair will prevent the risk of flooding and mold growth. Other things you can do to prepare your plumbing system for your absence include draining and turning off the water heater. This is essential if you choose to shut off the water in your home. You should also drain your sprinkler system and shut it off to prevent unwanted leaks. Additionally, don’t forget to inspect your sump pump to ensure it’s not broken, as this can also cause flooding and severe water damage.
Attend to All Electrical Repairs
If you’re aware your home has electrical issues, it’s best to get the repairs done as part of your initiative for all around home repair to prepare your home for your vacation period. Even if there are no major problems to note, you may still want to take the time to do things like installing power surge protectors. There’s always the potential of a storm and a lightning strike that causes a massive power surge. It can be devastating coming home to such an occurrence, only to find out that your valuable appliances have been damaged. This is not the worst of it because massive electrical flows also have the potential to start fires.
Since electrical work can be dangerous, be sure to hire a professional electrical contractor to perform a thorough inspection of your system. They will highlight any repairs and identify potential issues that need to be addressed before you leave. For instance, your electrical contractor might recommend fixing electrical wiring issues, light issues, and problems with your circuit breaker. Besides booking an electrical fire safety inspection, there are other things you can do to safeguard your electrical system and save on energy. You can unplug all electric appliances and devices and install LED lights that use less energy.
Have Your Garage Door Fixed
Are you finally ready to go on vacation? Before you go check to make sure that your garage door is working properly. You’re not done with your all around home repair projects if you still need garage door repair. Remember your garage door is one of your home’s entryways, and you don’t want it to be the weakest link when a burglar or intruder comes knocking. A well-functioning garage door will boost your home’s security measures so you can relax better on your vacation. On the other hand, a broken garage door is easy enough to pry open, and this increases the risk of a break-in. Besides improving security and keeping your home safe, garage door repair is necessary for safety reasons.
You can’t trust a faulty garage door not to come crashing down on your or your car. Getting your garage door fixed, therefore, helps you avoid painful injuries or expensive bumper repairs. You may not plan to be using the garage door while on holiday, but maybe your house sitter will want to make use of it, so it’s important to attend to all garage door problems to protect other people. Garage door repair is also not something that you want to deal with after a long relaxation. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by taking care of the problem earlier.
These are some of the best all around home repair projects that will safeguard your home while you’re on vacation. By being proactive, you can have more peace of mind and enjoy your vacation better, knowing you prepared your home well for your absence. The purpose of these all around home repair projects is to keep your home safe and minimize the risk of damage to various systems.
The most important reason for upgrading the state of your home before leaving for a vacation is that you’ll appreciate coming back to a much-improved home. It’s crucial to perform as many of these repairs as possible also because it can prevent large, expensive repairs. This is the last thing you need after getting back from your lovely vacation. So, start attending to your home and make the necessary repairs before you jet off or hit the road. Your future self will thank you!
