When you're heading out of town, it's always good to ready the house. Happily, these tips are good vacation practices, as well as little ways to practice green living—even while you're away.
We know that some of these tips are just common-sense practices, but we like this checklist—especially helpful for those times when we're rushed out the door for a long weekend away. Feel free to offer your own tips.
• In the summer especially, don't forget to water your plants and garden before you leave. Or set the timer on your irrigation system to lend a hand. If you'll be gone for a while and don't want your veggies or flowers to suffer, enlist the help of a good friend or neighbor.
• Turn the air up, but not off. We like to keep a little air circulating so when we return, we don't have to breathe stale air for a while. It also keeps our house plants a little happier. And of course, if you're leaving any pets at home alone, it's something to be hyper-aware of. We leave ours between 80 and 82 degrees (which is better for the house when outside temps climb above 100!).
• Put lights on a timer, or leave on a couple of lamps outfitted CFL bulbs.
• Don’t pay for any vampire power! Unplug the TV, computer, and anything else with an "off" light.
• For your air quality's sake, be sure to take out the trash and compost before leaving town.
We also like to clean house a little before we leave, so that when we get back we're greeted with a fresh home. What about you?
Related posts:
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• Agritourism: Vacation on a Working Farm or Vineyard
• How to Get the Benefits of a 2-Week Vacation in One Day
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All of these are good, but I do a couple more things before I leave, so that coming home is a joy.
- Clean up the house before you go, taking out the trash, etc., so you can keep the relaxation going when you get back.
- Wash your sheets and towels. Yes, you'll still have laundry from your trip, but being able to slide into a nice clean bed is lovely.
- Dump some white vinegar down your drains if you'll be gone more than a couple of days. It'll help clean them out, and keep them from getting stinky. Sometimes your trashcans could benefit from this treatment, too:)
- Clear out the stuff in your fridge that isn't going to last until you get back.
If you live in an area where your lawn can survive without irrigation turn off your water from the main turn off valve if you are gone more then 3 days. Most insurance policies will not cover water damage if your house is not checked on for more then 3 days by someone. The last thing you want is the water pipe for your shower on the 2nd floor to break on day one of a 6 day trip. You will come home to no floor to your 2nd floor and a bathtub in your living room!
It's fair enough to leave the air con on for pets, but so you don't have to breathe stale air when you get back? It seems odd that one of the next suggestions is don't pay for vampire power... and I do live in a climate that reaches 42C/109F in summer btw.
Anyway if you're a worrier like me, a checklist is not a bad idea... a reminder that you did in fact turn the oven off before you left. Turning the water heater off completely is apparently not a good idea, but some of them vacation/holiday switch that uses less power for when you go away
Another great thing about a programmable thermostat is that you can set it to come back down to your preferred operating ranges just before you return home.