Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Vacation Safety Tips

As the weather is getting nicer here in the Midwest and the school year is ending, many folks are planning weekend getaways and vacations. While making your plans don't forget to include a few simple ways to protect your home and possessions.

We see all kinds of tips on how to protect your home from thieves - put lights on timers, stop your mail (USPS.com) and your newspaper, have someone mow your yard, make sure your garage door is closed (yes we have come home from day trips and the garage door has been wide open!) but have you considered other, preventable losses?

Small appliances including coffee makers, toasters, flatirons and curling irons left plugged in (even when switched off) can cause a fire. Take a few extra minutes to make sure everything (including  TV's and all the attached players,) are unplugged. Not only will this protect your home from fire but it will also protect all these items from possible lightning damage.

Do you shut your water off? Ask ANYONE that has experienced a water leak from any appliance or pipe- it gets nasty quick. Not only does it ruin your flooring, sub floor, any cabinets it comes in contact with, it gets moldy and smelly pretty darn quick. Take the extra few minutes to shut your water off where it comes into the house, then starting at the highest point in your house, flush the toilets, turn on all the faucets and work your way down to the lowest spot in your house. Some folks even drain their water heater and shut it off, we don't but our water heater is in the basement and right by the floor drain.

Fell free to share any additional tips you have.