Spring is in the air here in Crystal and Twin Cities and that means vacation plans are around the corner. While you’re planning what you need to pack and take with you, don’t forget what you’re leaving behind, your home. The GV Heating & Air team has some tips that will assist in keeping your home safe and help save some money on your utility bills while you revel in a well-deserved vacation.
- Install Timers - Timers are an economical way to make your home seem as though someone is home by turning off and on the lights as if you never left. It’s a wise idea to program your lights to correspond with your typical schedule.
- Enlist the help of a house-sitter - If you have a trusted friend or family member, ask them if they’d mind stopping by and [[checking in on|check up on|look over]18 the house while you’re away. There’s no greater comfort than a text while you’re out of town letting you know that everything at home is as it should be.
- Wait to share - We aren’t going to say not to share photos of your amazing vacation on social media, but try to put it off until after you make it home to post anything about your trip. Family and friends presumably already know you’re leaving so there’s no reason letting potential criminals know your plans. Everyone will be just as excited about the wonderful things you saw after you safely return home.
- Hold the Mail - The USPS has made it more effortless than ever to put a hold on your mail you can do it online right now.
- Unplugged - If an electrical item is plugged in, even if it’s not on, it’s using energy. An effortless way to conserve energy while you’re on vacation is to unplug some of your electronics. Something that you may overlook unplugging is your garage door. It will conserve energy and it will also be another safeguard for your home.
- Adjust the thermostat - If you’re out of town there’s no sense keeping your home heated and cooled to your comfort level. If you have a digital thermostat you can set the thermostat back to your comfort level so you arrive back to a safe, cozy home.
These are some painless tips to add to your spring break prep checklist, right after finding the perfect bathing suit. If you have any questions about safeguarding your home this season or want to review additional energy saving tips, give GV Heating & Air in Crystal and Twin Cities a call at 763-535-2000.