Would you turn off gas if you're travelling for a month? I have a water tank storage. I will also be turning off the water mains and electricity at the switchboard.
What Do You Do for The House before Travelling?
LKongzi on 10/11/2024 - 11:23
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Our smoke alarms are dual powered, battery only serves as backup
Check any deals on OzB
Set timer for lamps/TV to switch auto on
Have a few desk lamps I put on timers, going on in a few rooms of the house at late hours.
We're rural so lock gate to property, turn off water pump & hot water heater, lock windows, put fridge/freezer onto ECO mode. Pull any non-essential power devices out including NBN (we've had destroyed twice due to nearby lightning strikes - were on fixed wireless).
Wifi lights - Have this come on/off
Turn the main water off in winter or isolate the house in summer so the garden can still receive water.
Leave a few windows with security screens slightly open, so fresh air can get inside the house.
Turn off every plug except for the Fridge/Freezer and wifi
Lock all doorsInsurance check most wont cover a month of not being in the house.
Normally 2 months I think
if am way for months I turn every think but power off set light to go off and on all the time radio Google play music and other news on light on off a radom times
Cut a hole in the bag of dog/cat food and make sure the tractor tyre is full of water in the backyard . Give them a talking too about staying put and not getting captured by the council as there will be no rescue , and wish them the best.
Tough love for your kids ;)
I know you are joking but sadly some people do think this sort of thing is acceptable.
Who’s joking?
Water off
Gas off
Electric on - appliances unplugged (except fridge). 1 led lamp on a timer left onCheck back door is locked. Close front door. Check front door is locked. Easy.
Turn off the taps that connect to flex hoses inside. E.g. washing machine
These older ones are known for having a shorter lifespan…Good idea about water. Never thought about that. But I need to leave it on for someone to water the plants.
Gas, have instant hot water so no need to deal with that.
As BartholemewH stated Check back door is locked. Close front door.
The biggest hassles for me is eating as much stuff in the fridge/freezer as possible and also getting someone to water the plants.
You can get automatic watering systems. The problem is when they go mental. Our neighbour has a rooftop garden and the watering system failed and gushed water down the side of her place and into the street. We rang her and then climbed a ladder to turn off the taps.
Sorry, I should have said pot plants, particularly indoor pot plants.
What happened to your neighbour doesn't inspire much confidence lol.
You mean potted plants, not pot plants?
@JimB: I think that sumyungguy was referring to “pot plants” as being the ones that people don’t want the cops to know about.
Recently got back from 2 months overseas - what I did was the following (overkill or not)
Turned off every power point (so no equipment was on 'standby' mode) except for NBN and Router (as the cameras require an internet connection - some solar, some batteries).
Closed and deadlocked every window and door (also placed long pieces of hardwood or steel behind the doors and windows, so they couldn't open) - of course if someone wants to get in they'll smash the glass, but whatever it takes to hinder their access. Breaking of glass attracts noise too, so there's the chance a neighbour will hear or at least the camera has time to capture and record the break in.
Asked our neighbours to collect our mail and take out our bins (empty or not) - a lot of people forget about bin day.
Asked a relative to swing by once a week/fortnight, just to do a walk in and look around.
Cleared the fridge and pantry of any perishables. Gave away any frozen goods to friends and family.
Parked car(s) in the driveway, so it looks like someone's home (Kept the expensive one in the Garage).
Stopped all mailouts and 'subscribe and save' deliveries with Amazon and others.
Put Gym membership on hold (why not, saves some money)
Told Banks, ISPs & Phone provider I'll be overseas (back in 2008 both Telstra and Commbank put a hold on my accounts because I was in LA, part of their failsafe at the time)
Put fresh sheets on the beds, so they're clean upon our return.
I put personal stuff in one room and lock it, camera it, sensor it, etc
Then I put the house for Airbnb. Also used to put the car for rent.
Timers for lights, check security cams are working and put some toilet cleaner in the toilets. Our Solar easily covers any standby use. I do some other security measures in the garage. Have a chat to neighbours to clear any junk mail.
What's the reason behind putting toilet cleaner?
Probably to work on stains for a longer time than usual
Check the small print on your home and contents insurance policies to see if there is an issue with how long you are away.
Just convince someone to housesit for you.
- Take out all trash
- Close all toilet lids
- Leave some windows open with a small gap for ventilation
- Unplug garage door opener so it can't be open by a remote
- Turn off unused power outlets and appliances
- Turn off water main
- Turn off gas supply
- Organise friend/relative to check periodically and to empty mailbox
I put the pot plants in the bath with a few centimetres of water if its more than a week.
Also unplug computerized appliances in case of power spikes but leave lights & radio on mechanical plug in timers
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Do you mean smoke alarm? What kind of building are you envisaging OP lives in? My smoke alarms are battery powered and are useless if there is no one in the house….