How To Prep Your Home Before A Vacation

Five steps you should take

Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough at one point or another this winter season to get away from the cold Massachusetts temperatures. If this is the case, there are some steps you should take before heading off on vacation to ensure that you return to a home that is exactly how you left it. After all, the last thing you want after a relaxing getaway is to come back to a stressful and unpleasant situation.

If you follow the below five steps before you depart for your trip, your home will be winterized and safe while you’re away.

1. Make sure your appliances are unplugged
   This will help in the event that there is a power outage while you’re gone. If there is a power outage and your appliances are plugged in, the appliances can surge and then fry or, even worse, start a fire. On top of that, you’ll end up saving money by keeping things unplugged since certain appliances (known as “vampire” appliances) still use energy and add to your bills even when they’re not being used.
2. Check your thermostat
   Despite what the common thinking may be, your thermostat should not be turned off while you’re gone. You actually want to keep your thermostat on its heat setting and set to about 55 degrees. This reduces the chances of your pipes freezing.
3. Check your doors and windows
   While this may sound obvious, make sure all of your home’s doors, windows and shutters are shut and locked. To make sure your house gets some extra warmth while you’re gone, seal the doors and windows or consider adding storm windows.
4. Shut the flue to your fireplace
   You definitely don’t want to return home from vacation and find your house full of rain, snow or live animals. To prevent this, make sure you shut the flue to your fireplace before you depart.
5. Adjust your delivery schedule
   If you have automatic propane or heating oil deliveries set up with us, call us before your trip so we can adjust your delivery schedule.

Pioneer Oil and Propane wants to help you enjoy both a stress-free vacation and a stress-free return from vacation. Contact us today for any automatic delivery adjustments and for all your propane and heating oil needs.