Four Easy Steps to Prep Your Home Before You Escape the Cold!

Whatever the length of the trip you might be planning this winter, it probably involves a few checklists. There’s your packing list, your travel itinerary and your list of sites to visit.

However, if you haven’t put together a checklist to safeguard your house while you’re away, you might return from vacation to find burst pipes, damaged wiring, or an empty heating oil tank. Those nasty surprises will ruin any relaxation you feel after your break.

Luckily, the experts at Burt’s Reliable know a thing or two about prepping your North Fork or East End Long Island home during a wintertime vacation. Here are a few steps to take before you go away:

Lower your Thermostat

Why keep your home toasty when no one is there? Reduce your thermostat to 60° but don’t turn your heat off completely, which could result in your pipes freezing. Also, set your thermostat to “auto” instead of “on.” This prevents your blower fan from running constantly.

For even more comfort and control, you can get a smart thermostat like the Ecobee Wifi Thermostat that Burt’s Reliable installs. With this device, you can monitor and adjust your home temperature from your smartphone. These precautions can save you real money on heating oil use!

Shut Off Your Main Water Valve

If you want added confidence that your plumbing won’t ice, you can shut off the main water valve to your home and open all faucets. This will totally drain the water in your pipes and relieve pressure on the system. Your pipes can’t freeze now because there’s no water in them.

Unplug Appliances

Did you know that a significant part of a home’s energy costs come from electronics that leech power just by being plugged in? You can save money on your electric bill by unplugging all unnecessary appliances in your home before leaving.

This step will importantly protect those gadgets and your wiring from potential damage during an electrical surge.

Ask a Neighbor to Check on Your Home

Your home should be in good shape if your take the steps listed above, but it’s still a good idea to have someone check on your home periodically, especially if there’s freezing or inclement weather in the forecast. If you give your neighbor access to your home while you’re gone, be sure to make us aware. That way, we can connect with your contact for critical service, repairs or deliveries.

No one wants to run out of heating oil while they’re on vacation. If you receive fuel from Burt’s Reliable and plan to be away for a long time, talk to us about automatic deliveries to prevent a tank run-out.