Preparing house for long road trip

[reelcamper1]

Husband & I are about to take our longest road trip this fall.....16 Days! Just wondering how you prepare your homes for being empty for so long. We always do the basic things: mail, lights, disconnect tvs...
Does anyone go further & turn off water, shut off water heater, etc?
Would love any tips!

Looking forward to the long trip, hope to be full-timing in about 5 years!

[2oldman]

Dick_B wrote:
large steel mailbox that can handle a couple of weeks worth of mail. Longer trips require holding the mail at the post office or having someone access the mailbox and let us know what bills need to be paid.

Hmm.. I thought auto-bill pay was almost a given for long-term travel.

[Dick_B]

We have an alarm system and several internet cameras that can see the inside and outside of the house from anywhere on earth. Some systems also record for several hours to identify burglars but they are much more sophisticated.
We have a large steel mailbox that can handle a couple of weeks worth of mail. Longer trips require holding the mail at the post office or having someone access the mailbox and let us know what bills need to be paid.
Main water and water heater off are a must. If a pipe breaks while you are gone there will not be a house to come home to.

[gbopp]

Turn the water off where it enters the house, unless you need it on for a boiler/heating system. If so, turn off as much of the water system as possible.
Don't forget the water line to your refrigerator ice maker. It's amazing how much damage a small line leaking can do, trust me.
Enjoy your trip.

[reelcamper1]

Thanks! Lots of great tips that were not on my list!

[2chiefsRus]

put an icecube in a glass in the freezer. Check the ice cube when you come back. If it has changed shape, i.e. melted, and then refrozen, you know your power was off for a while you were gone.

[ReneeG]

What you've said already, plus the following:
1. Turn off water to all the toilets
2. Turn off water to the fridge
3. Turn off water to the washer
4. Secure all dog door covers from the inside
5. Make sure all blinds are closed
6. Make sure all outside motion lights are working
7. Latch inside of garage door
8. Lock all gates
9. Set AC (or heater) to appropriate temp
10. Have front lawn mowed while we're gone
11. Pick all veggies, water all plants outside
12. Give itinerary to DS
13. Have DS periodically come and check on the house inside and out.

[2oldman]

water off, heat on.