Taking an extended vacation can be a wonderful way to unwind and eliminate the cares of your daily life. Worrying about your home while you're away may seem inevitable, but it doesn't need to be if you follow these smart home heating tips. After all, vacations should be all about relaxing and enjoying yourself!
Smart home heating
If you live in a colder climate, you'll want to be sure that your heating system works properly while you're gone so you don't come home to frozen water pipes. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to monitor and control your heat while you're on an extended vacation. Not only will these tips eliminate stress, they can also save money in the long run.
Weatherization
Be sure that your storm windows are installed and the windows are closed before you leave. If you'll be gone for the entire winter, you may want to have plastic film installed over your windows for help with weatherization. Check for gaps around windows and doors that may indicate your weatherstripping needs to be replaced.
Before you leave on your extended vacation, have your heating system cleaned and inspected by a professional. The heat that's lost from a poorly maintained heating system can add up over time. You should also clean or replace the furnace filter before you leave. Your furnace will work more efficiently and waste less heat if the air circulates properly through your home. Be certain that furniture isn't blocking any of your heating ducts, return vents, or radiators to ensure that the heat is allowed to circulate through the room.
Heat settings
Turn down your heat to 50 degrees Fahrenheit before you leave for an extended vacation. This temperature will prevent your pipes from freezing without wasting heat while you're gone. If you live in an area that's prone to frigid weather, look into insulating your water heater and hot water pipes before you leave. If your water heater is in an unheated space, it may freeze and burst while you're gone. Consider draining the water to prevent this from happening.
Remember to schedule regular oil or gas deliveries throughout the winter while you're gone. Your furnace won't continue running if it's out of fuel. It's best to sign up for monthly deliveries, so you don't need to remember to call the supplier while you're away on vacation. Remember that your furnace will come on more often as the temperature drops. A sudden cold snap or temperatures much lower than normal may use up your fuel reserves quicker than you anticipated. Be certain that your fuel supplier has a phone number to contact you while you're away in case of a problem.
Preparations for your return
Of course, you don't want to come back to a home that's heated to only 50 degrees. You can buy a programmable smart thermostat that allows you to begin heating your home a few hours before you return. A smart thermostat has the added benefit of being able to send you alerts when the temperature drops below a certain threshold in your home.
Be certain to leave a spare key with a neighbor so they can stop by and adjust things manually in the event that you receive a temperature alert.
Now that you know more about smart home heating, you can enjoy your extended vacation knowing you've prepared your home for your absence.
