5 tips to keep your home safe and worry-free on your next family trip
(BPT) - Sunscreen? Check. Flip flops? Check. Home appliances? Check. While families are busy planning and packing for their summer getaway, they tend to overlook that their appliances stay on the job even while no one is home. Ensuring you have your boarding pass printed and bags packed before leaving on vacation is a given, but there are several steps you can take to prepare your home before you take off to paradise.
TotalProtect Home Warranty, a national leader in home appliance and system protection plans, suggests adding these tips to your vacation checklist to keep your home safe and worry-free while you’re away.
Adjust your thermostat: Bump your thermostat up to 78 degrees or more before you leave. This will give your air conditioner a nice vacation of its own and save you money on electricity. If you have pets, speak to your veterinarian about a safe temperature that will keep your furry friends happy.
Make sure all alarm systems are up and running: Test your security, sump-pump, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. For extra peace of mind, invest in a system that will send alerts to your cell phone while you’re on the go, like the Nest ProtectTM smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. (Savings tip: For a limited time, homeowners can receive a complimentary Nest Protect with a qualifying TotalProtect Home Warranty plan — a retail value of $99).
Prep your water heater: Water heaters use a lot of energy — sometimes up to 20 percent of your monthly bill. If you have a gas water heater, turn it to the vacation setting. If electric, simply shut off the breaker in your fuse box and remember to turn it back on at least an hour before you need hot water.
Snuff pilot lights: While these are generally safe, you may want to put them out if your house will be unattended while you're on vacation. It will give you peace of mind to know that there's no flame burning in your home, and it will likely shave a few dollars off your energy bill. It's a win-win!
Unplug appliances: Once the luggage is in the car, have your family walk around the house and unplug any small appliances. These can include your toaster or coffee maker, as well as electronics, lamps, beauty tools and more. These little appliances use electricity just by being plugged in.
Ensure peace of mind: To ease the stress of returning home from vacation to find a broken appliance or system, look into purchasing a home protection plan to help get things back up and running without breaking your budget. For example, TotalProtect Home Warranty offers flexible plans with protection on more than 20 major home systems and appliances, a network of more than 40,000 pre-screened service technicians, six-month workmanship guarantee on all covered repairs and a 24/7 customer hotline.