Going Away on Winter Break? Here Are a Few Things to Do Before You Leave Your Delaware Valley Home
Posted: February 14, 2018
Taking the kids to Disney World? Visiting friends in Arizona? Just going somewhere, anywhere that’s warm? That’s great, have fun. But before going away, here are seven things you should do in your home to avoid having to deal with unnecessary problems when you return.
- Adjust your thermostat. Don’t turn off your heating system! Keep it running on the heat setting set for about 60 degrees or so to prevent pipes from freezing. Consider keeping kitchen cabinets open to keep heat flowing to uninsulated pipes there, too.
- Make sure all windows and doors are closed and sealed. Close shutters and check locks on all windows and doors.
- Unplug appliances. Unplugging appliances will protect them from power surges (which are common when power is restored after an outage) and reduce the risk of fire. You’ll also cut your energy bills by reducing the energy drawn from “vampire” appliances – ones that draw electric current even when they’re turned off.
- Close the flue on your wood fireplace. This will prevent snow, rain or animals from getting into your home. It will also prevent heat from escaping.
- Shut off the main water valve. The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to make sure there’s no water in them in the first place. Open up all your faucets to prevent pressure buildup from the little bit of water that remains in your pipes.
- Have someone check your home on a regular basis. That person can contact us if there’s a problem and give us access.
- If you’re an Automatic Delivery customer, call us! Remember, the timing of your propane or heating oil delivery is based on an estimate derived from your past usage and the current weather. If you’re going away – especially if you plan to be gone for a few weeks – let us know so we can revise our delivery plan accordingly.
For even more accuracy, please contact us about installing a wireless tank monitor so we know exactly how much fuel you have in your tank.
