Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Water Heater

Traditional water heaters heat water throughout the day, even when you’re not using water. Before you head out on a vacation, put the heater in vacation mode. Check to see if your water heater has a VAC setting — which is for vacations. If it doesn’t, you can turn down the thermostat to the lowest setting. But don’t stop at the water heater: turn off water valves to the dishwasher, washing machine and any sinks. The last thing you want to come home to is a flood in your house because a pipe broke or a hose burst. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Turn Down (Up?) the Thermostat

Your thermostat makes sure your home maintains a specific temperature throughout the day. Before you leave, set the thermostat to a higher (or lower, depending on the season) temperature if the house is going to be empty. This will help conserve energy while you’re gone. If you do turn down the thermostat, be sure to keep your home at a temperature that will still protect plants, pets and furniture. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Unplug

Of course a vacation is a time for you to “unplug” from your daily life. Give your electronics the same courtesy. Small appliances and electronics can be energy vampires when plugged in, and some are still active even when they look like they’re turned off. I talked about this before back in December. Before you leave, unplug those items that won’t be used while you’re gone (coffee makers, toasters, espresso machines, etc.). It’s also a good time to make sure all smoke detectors work properly throughout your home. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Mow Your Lawn

Grass can grow pretty fast in two or three days. If you have a lawn, make sure it’s trimmed before you embark on your trip. If you’re going to be gone longer than a week, ask a family member or neighbor to cut the grass in the front yard while you’re away. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Put a Light on a Timer

A dark house stands out in a neighborhood, especially when all the other homes are lit up. Before you leave, buy a timer and install it on a lamp in your home. It’s also a good idea to install a motion-activated sensor on an outdoor floodlight that will be triggered should someone walk by it. You can also ask a neighbor to turn on the front porch light in the evening. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Park Your Car in the Garage

The last thing you want is to get home from a vacation and have your car gone. If you can, park your car inside the garage, or have a family member park it at his/her house. You can also ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway, making it look like someone is leaving each morning. OK, I suppose your garage doesn’t look like this. But what if it did?!   Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Vacation: Stop Your Newspaper and Mail

One sure sign of being absent from your home is a pile of newspapers in the driveway. Contact your newspaper delivery person and stop service while you’re gone. If you don’t have a locked mailbox, contact the post office and have them hold your mail. You can also ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers and deliveries and have him/her hold them for you until you’re back. Mail Delivery Uncategorized
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