When you take a vacation, you should spend your time enjoying the change in scenery and the time off, not worrying about your home in the Fort Wayne area. While you are drawing up your vacation plans, include the following suggestions so that you can have some worry-free time away from home:
- Turn Up the A/C: If you would like to save the most amount of money possible while you're gone, turn your air conditioner up by five degrees or more. Do not turn it all the way off, however, because with the house closed up, that could allow excessive humidity to build up inside, along with the heat, possibly causing moisture damage.
- Service the A/C: Make sure your air conditioning system has had all of its routine maintenance done before you leave. Not only will this help it run efficiently while you're gone, it also will allow your contractor to spot any problems that may otherwise cut short your vacation plans.
- Shut off the Water Supply: Turn off the main valve for your water supply. That way, if a leak develops while you're gone, there will be no chance of water damage.
- Test the Sump Pump: If you live in an area prone to basement flooding, clean your sump pump pit before you leave and dump some water into it to make sure the sump pump is operating correctly.
- Shut off Electrical Devices: Unplug all unnecessary appliances, lights and electronic devices to reduce your fire risks and save energy. Put a few lights on timers, so that the home looks occupied while you're gone, and set the security system.
- Arrange for a House Sitter: Give a family member, friend or neighbor a key to your home for emergencies, and have them perform routine tasks like watering the lawn, taking out the garbage and collecting the mail while they keep an eye on the house.
If you are making vacation plans and need more information about preparing your HVAC system, contact our experts at Hartman Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. We serve Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about vacation tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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