Winter Vacation Plans? Heed These Pre-Departure Home Security Tips

The last thing you want to confront upon returning from a vacation is a household disaster such as a burglary or busted pipes, or even something less impactful. When making vacation plans, it’s important to keep your home safe and secure while you’re away. We suggest that you start by following these tips before you leave:

• Secure your doors and windows – You’d be surprised how many people leave to go on a long vacation without securing every door and window. If your home is large, make a mini-map and/or checklist to make sure none of your windows or doors are missed when you leave.
• Turn off your home’s main water supply – Coming home to a flooded home is nothing short of a nightmare. A busted pipe or leaking water heater can happen at any time, and if you’re not home, the damage can easily cost thousands. Take the time to turn off the water to avoid this potential disaster.
• Stop mail and newspapers – Criminals are always on the lookout for homes with stacks of newspapers or mail. Your local Post Office can hold your mail, and a temporary hold can be placed on newspaper delivery through your carrier. This will help prevent coming home to a burglarized home.
• Enlist the help of a neighbor – If you have a trusted neighbor, have him or her keep an eye on your home to look for anything suspicious. Leave keys, if possible, in case of an emergency that may require an HVAC technician. Asking them to park their vehicle in your driveway is a good way to appear as if someone’s at home, as well.
• Install a programmable thermostat – These advanced thermostats will allow you to set the days and times that your HVAC system kicks on, which can help you maintain a safe temperature for plants, pipes and whatnot. With a WiFi unit, you can even monitor your home from afar.

For more expert advice when making vacation plans, or for questions relating to home comfort, please contact the friendly professionals at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We’ve been serving the HVAC needs of Central Florida since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about home safety and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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