There are so many things to do before leaving on a trip. Here’s a list of important things you shouldn’t forget.
Before going on vacation, I have a checklist of items that I go through to ensure everything is taken care of. Many of the items are general, such as:
- Making arrangements for your mail and/or newspaper
- Making arrangements for your pet(s)
- Printing your itinerary
- Making a freezer meal to have on hand for when we come home
I also have home maintenance items on my list, such as:
- Mowing the lawn
- Taking out the trash
- Washing the sheets (I love coming home to fresh sheets!
Did you know there are also things you can do to help save electricity while you’re away? Just a few simple tasks will ensure you aren’t using or wasting energy while you’re away.
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- Adjust your thermostat. You don’t need to waste energy cooling your home while you’re not there. During your summer retreat, turn the A/C off or set the thermostat to 85-87 degrees. Just be sure the temperature isn’t set too high for any plants or pets staying behind.
- Turn off all fans. If you use fans often in your home, turn them off or unplug them when you leave. Remember— fans cool people, not rooms.
- Close your curtains and shades. Even though you’ve already turned up your thermostat, blocking out the sun will keep your home at a more consistent temperature and your HVAC will have even less work to do.
- Unplug your electronics. Most of the electronics in your home still use small amounts of power, even when they’re turned off. So make sure any computers, TVs, game systems, coffee makers, microwaves or other electronics are unplugged before you leave.
- Clean out your refrigerator. If you can, completely empty your refrigerator and unplug it. Just remember to leave the doors open to prevent mildew.
- Adjust your water heater. Turn down your water heater to “vacation” or “pilot” mode. Having readily available hot water on tap can account for up to 25 percent of the energy used in your home.
- Use automated timers. It’s a good idea to have a few lights on at night to make your home appear occupied while you’re away. But it’s a better idea to put a few lights on timers so that they aren’t wasting electricity during the day. Consider installing motion-activated lights outside your home. These lights turn on when there is movement near your home.
- Use an automatic timer for your pool. Make sure your pool filter is on a timer. Be sure proper chemical levels are maintained since the two go hand-in-hand.
*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities. I am a Project Envolve Ambassador and have received product/compensation to facilitate this post. This post may also contain affiliate links. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
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Great tips Christina! Especially about preparing a meal for the freezer. I always seem to forget to do that, and then we are spending money eating out when we get home. Thanks for the idea!