Before Your Snowbird Adventure
Before heading off on your snowbird adventure, it's important to winterize your home. Following this helpful checklist, you can prepare your home for a seamless transition. From checking for potential hazards to optimizing energy usage, this comprehensive guide will assist you in safeguarding your home and making it more efficient.
Secure your doors and windows.
For the safety and security of your property, it's essential to take necessary measures to ensure that all doors and windows are completely secure. Carefully inspect each door and window to identify any gaps, cracks, or openings that can be used by intruders to gain unauthorized access. Once you've identified them, promptly fix them to make sure that your property is fully protected.
Safety Check on the Thermostat and Heating System
Consider using a Smart Thermostat for
your home, which can make temperature adjustments easier and more efficient. With a smart thermostat, you can easily program and control temperature settings remotely through your smartphone. Moreover, with energy-saving features, you can save on heating costs while keeping your home comfortable. Check out some top-rated smart thermostats available on the market and see if it's the right choice for you. Google Nest thermostat is a great option to start with.
turning off the main water supply to prevent leaks and water damage
Before leaving your home for an extended period, it is important to take necessary precautions to avoid any water damage or leaks in your absence. To do this, you should turn off the main water supply to your house to prevent any water from flowing through the pipes. Once done, you can drain the plumbing system by opening faucets and flushing toilets to remove any remaining water. Additionally, you may consider using antifreeze in your drains and toilets to further protect your plumbing from freezing or cracking during cold weather. Remember, taking these simple steps can save you from costly water damage repairs and give you peace of mind while you're away.- Set your hot water heater to the lowest setting or switch it to vacation mode. If you prefer, you can turn it off entirely to save energy.
Appliance Preparations
Maintaining energy efficiency in your household appliances requires some specific steps. To begin with, you can start by unplugging any electronics that aren't necessary. This includes items such as chargers, computers, and other devices that might not be in use. By unplugging these electronics, you can prevent energy from being wasted when they're not in use.
Another crucial step is to clean and empty your refrigerator and freezer. This includes wiping down the shelves, drawers, and walls of the fridge to ensure that it's free of spills, stains, and crumbs. When doing this, make sure to remove all the food items from the fridge and freezer, and dispose of any expired or rotten items.
After cleaning, it's recommended to leave the doors open to prevent mold and odor buildup. This is especially important in humid climates where moisture can accumulate inside the fridge. By leaving the doors open, you allow the air to circulate and dry out any remaining moisture.
We hope these tips make your snowbird journey peaceful.
Talk soon,