Leaving for the winter?
To help prepare your home before you leave for the winter, the Institute for Business & Home Safety has produced: Is Your Home Alone? Keep It Safe When You Are Not There.
Some of the suggestions include:
- Adjust the thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees so pipes will not freeze.
- Drain your water system and turn off the main water source to prevent serious damage from a buildup of pressure if water freezes within your pipes.
- Turn off the water supply to your washing machine, ice-maker, toilets, and sinks to prevent a flood from ruptured hoses. A 1/8-inch crack can spew 250 gallons of water a day, ruining floors, furniture, and mementos.
- Unplug your coffee maker, microwave oven, television, and computer.
- Arm your home security system to keep monitoring for break-ins, fire, smoke, or carbon monoxide even when you are not there. Make sure you provide the security company with the name of an emergency contact who has keys to the house.
Monthly Reminder
Pull out your washing machine, refrigerator, ice-maker, dishwasher, and other appliances to inspect hoses for bulges, cracks, and leaks. To prevent thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses in the future, replace rubber hoses with durable, flexible steel hoses that cost from $10 to $20.
