Don't Leave for Summer Vacation without Preparing the Home First

"When a homeowner is away on vacation and the house is left empty, it is vulnerable to water damage, fires and burglaries," said Tommy Webber, owner of T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. "Fortunately, if homeowners take the time to prepare their home before they leave, they can prevent many of these issues."

Webber offers the following tips to prepare the home before leaving for vacation:

• Unplug appliances – Appliances continue to use energy even when the device is turned off. It is best to unplug all devices including phone chargers, computers, televisions and coffee pots. This will not only save energy, but it will prevent damage from lightning strikes and power surges.
• Adjust air conditioning – The air conditioning system uses a significant amount of energy. Turn the temperature up 10 degrees higher than it is usually set, or have a professional install a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted to turn on and cool the home just before returning from vacation.
• Clean garbage disposal – The waste disposal is notorious for developing unpleasant odors while the house is empty. It is wise to flush the garbage disposal out with ½ cup of white vinegar and hot water while the disposal is turned on.
• Change the setting on the water heater – There is no need to heat water for an empty home. Adjust the water heater to vacation mode. If the water heater does not have a vacation mode, turn the temperature down. This will save a significant amount of money on the energy bill.
• Put lights on a timer – According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), there are more than 2.15 million burglaries each year, with the majority occurring in the peak vacation months of July and August. If a home is dark, it is a sure sign that someone is not home. Put a couple of lamps on a timer inside the home. Set these to go on and off at different intervals. This will give the illusion that someone is home and make the home less vulnerable to burglaries.
• Treat stagnant water in toilet – Water left inactive in the toilet can produce a foul odor and a difficult to remove ring that forms around the toilet bowl. To prevent this, place ½ cup of bleach in the toilet bowl just before leaving home.

For Hudson Valley-area residents who would like help and suggestions for preparing their homes for vacation, the professionals at T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning are ready to assist. For more information visit http://twebber.com/ or call 1-845-237-5013.

About T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is a family owned and operated home services company serving the Hudson Valley area, including Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Orange and Ulster counties. A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, T. Webber has been the company of choice for commercial and residential repairs and services for nearly 30 years. Tom Webber founded the company in 1989 with the vision to exceed customer expectations and provide exceptional service with integrity, competence and objectivity with every service call. T. Webber provides timely, same-day service for plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, well system, water quality, bathroom remodeling, and sewer and septic repairs. For more information, call 1-845-237-5013 or visit http://twebber.com/.

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Heather Ripley
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SOURCE T. Webber Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

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