Taking a vacation? Did you know some of the biggest disasters in your home could occur when you’re away. From water damage to theft, home owners that left for a beautiful vacation would be coming home a disaster. There are however a few things a homeowner can do to minimize their chances of walking home to a disaster. Here are some tips:

1) Turn off your main water valve. You would be surprised at the number of homeowners that have commented on their pipes bursting while on vacation (google it). When a water pipe bursts, it can be a very unsettling feeling if it happens in front of you. Imagine nobody there to turn your water off. All those hardwood floors, furniture and other valuables getting soaked and damaged. The cost for water repair could be as small as a few hundred dollars to replacement of your entire structure. The other benefit of doing this is, if you are the unlikely victim of a burst pipe, your insurance premiums would likely skyrocket and your water damage coverage could be limited or removed all together.

2) We also turn off our gas valves for our fireplace and stove. This is again a small precaution we take in case there are any gas leaks. In addition to gas leaks we also unplug any electrical devices, again for precautions.

3) It’s always a good idea to let neighbors, friends, family and your alarm company know you’re going away on vacation. Have someone check in with your house just to make sure everything is ok. The garage is actually a very common place thief’s break into to get access to your home. Check out this video on the 6 second break in and how to prevent this from happening to you.

4) Last, if you’re into some technology, consider getting a home automation system that you can use to point cameras, put your lights on vacation mode and add door and window sensors. Here is a cool video to help you understand how the Belkin Wemo works.

To find out more details about some of the tips stated above, click below to listen to the full podcast. Hopefully this will help you better manage your vacation plans and increase the odds to come back to your home just the way you left it.

Important Links

Belkin Wemo Plug

Belkin Wemo Light Switch

Wink Home Automation

Smartthings Home Automation

The post TT013: Home Tips While on Vacation appeared first on Tool and Tie.