Leaving house unattended

[Karenys]

We are going on our first extended trip (for us - 2 months) - Do you shut off your house water and propane or leave them on while gone? Electricity is a no brainer but was wondering about the others.
Thanks in advance for advice.

[mlts22]

It may cost some tolls, but I'd recommend using 130 around Austin if going IH-35. SXSW is in full swing, and every native Austinite who can get the heck out of dodge has. This will save you 4-5 hours of time and frustration.

[Karenys]

We only have a swamp cooler so leaving it on isn't an option. The house will be hot!

[Majja13]

accsys wrote:

Karenys wrote:
Traveling during the summer so heat won't be a problem as I live in drought stricken, hotter than hades California 😉

In that case make sure to leave the A/C on, just turn the thermostat up to 85 to save energy and still keep the house from getting too hot. At least that setting works for us in Florida and also keeps the humidity down.

I second this one. Last year the AC got turned off before we left for a week long trip and when we got back the internal temp of the house was 104. So now I make sure it is on and set to 85. Now I just need to upgrade to one of the new wifi compatible thermostats so I can turn the AC back on as we are leaving the campground.

[dave54]

Daughter comes by to check the house periodically while we are gone for an extended trip.

SIL is a sergeant with the sheriff dept. Somehow our street gets extra patrols while we are gone. We never asked for it, he just tells his shift to watch our house... (actually, anyone who notifies the dept they will be gone gets extra patrols. The deputies have a list of homes to watch.)

[Karenys]

All the tips are great... Fortunately my next door neighbor is a cop and his patrol car is kept at his house. That helps also we are rural. And - have heard the Alamo is tiny so not expecting much but it is on our bucket list! Will have my daughter and hubby check also. Rv'ing finds the nicest people - Thank you all!

[tpi]

I live in CA and need to run sprinklers while gone in the summer. Other seasons I generally can get by for a while. I have irrigation on a separate valve so I turn off house water when out of house even for a night. I've seen far too much damage to others homes over the years from plumbing leaks, ice maker leaks, etc.

The neighbors know when I'm gone and know how to shut off the irrigation water. The dependability of irrigation system has been my biggest hassle when traveling. Stuck valves, broken heads-occasionally I've had to return early for that reason.

I also have Zwave system I can control lights, irrigation, and audio from my phone and computer. I can randomly hit different lights to attempt to make house look more lived in.

Gas I'll shut off on extended vacations.

IMO the biggest issue (in this area) are water leaks in the home.

[bee_46]

I agree about posting on social media. I never mention that I am away and avoid posting pictures of my travels. I have a blog that I only sent links to for family and close friends so they can follow us. I know there are folks who post anytime they are not home and I believe that is dangerous. We also have a security system on our home that is armed when we are not home.

[Sea_Dog]

pira114 wrote:
If I'm leaving for more than a week:

Unplug and turn off everything except fridge. Also furnace if it's winter.

Shut off water.

Have the post office hold the mail until I get back.

Notify the one neighbor we have.

That's about it.

IMPORTANT:

This may seem extreme, but stop posting on Internet sites, especially social media like Facebook and Twitter, that you're leaving. Criminals frequently check these for people saying they're leaving for certain times. Then they rob them blind. Pics on your account often have locations embedded. And social media sites track where your posting from. A lot of criminals that didn't pass high school know how to figure out your location. Just a tip. I run across this weekly during peak vacation times in my job.

This one about no saying that you are leaving
always makes me laugh.

We live in a small town and have gone south each winter
for over twenty five years.

Everyone knows this, and beginning about August,
start asking when we are leaving.

We only disconnect the phone, computer, and Tvs.

The heat, gas and water stay on.

[byrdr1]

Cut water off at pump and use CPI security.
randy

[LarryJM]

ken56 wrote:
Call you electric utility provider and tell them you are going to be on an extended vaca. We had gotten home after a 2 month trip and so happens I see a utility truck pull in my driveway. I go ask him what's up and he says he's here to change my meter. He says there's been unusual activity, like lack of normal usage. So I tell him we have been gone for 2 months and there is no problem with the meter. He went and checked the seal on the meter and then said bye.

Call your credit card co. too and let them know what states you will be in and how long your going to be gone. Out of state activity on a CC is a red flag for fraud. They know your buying patterns. Have fun on the trip.

Your comment about the credit card is a good one and I have had my bank call me a couple of times when we were on our various road trips about large charges made large distances from home. I even had my bank card at an ATM held once at a remote location until I went inside and proved who I was. This for BOA ATM and Chase Visa credit card.

Larry

[LarryJM]

donn0128 wrote:
If its going to be cold, set furnace thermostat to 50 55. If not, turn off water heater, water, etc and head out.

Exactly what I do and if during warmer months I even shut the gas off at the meter. When not needed I also shut the water off at the street. During the growing season I have a enormous backyard planter with a drip system and have modified my home water system to allow me to shut off all other water to the house except for the one outside faucet connected to the planter and the shut off/diverter is within the first 3 feet of the main water shutoff valve inside the house.

Larry

[pira114]

If I'm leaving for more than a week:

Unplug and turn off everything except fridge. Also furnace if it's winter.

Shut off water.

Have the post office hold the mail until I get back.

Notify the one neighbor we have.

That's about it.

IMPORTANT:

This may seem extreme, but stop posting on Internet sites, especially social media like Facebook and Twitter, that you're leaving. Criminals frequently check these for people saying they're leaving for certain times. Then they rob them blind. Pics on your account often have locations embedded. And social media sites track where your posting from. A lot of criminals that didn't pass high school know how to figure out your location. Just a tip. I run across this weekly during peak vacation times in my job.

[westend]

At least once a year in the Twin Cities metro, some snowbird flies South and leaves the water on but turns the furnace down too low. The result is a beautiful house covered with ice on the outside, looking like the Ice Castles they build up here for Winter events. The pipes usually break on the second floor.

[ncrowley]

We turn off the water and trip the breaker to the hot water heater. Depending on the time of the year, we either leave the heat on but turn the temperature down, or leave the AC 0on and turn the temperature up. We go to the post office and have them hold our mail. We put house lights on timers so it looks like someone is home.