When you’re at home, it’s easy for things that are out of place or abnormal to jump out at you. You have all the time you need to realize the problem and get it fixed before it becomes a major issue. But if your home needed repairs before you left on a trip or extended travels, you may not have gotten it taken care of before you left, which could mean coming home to a house in utter disarray. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you the next time you travel, here are three home repairs you should consider doing before leaving on a long trip.
Installing More Insulation
When you’re home, you have your heating or cooling system to help regulate the temperature and humidity in your house. But when it’s time for traveling, many people turn these systems off, choosing to save on energy and utilities. The problem with this is if your home isn’t properly insulated, you could come home to some major problems.
If you are traveling during a cold time of year, Kimberly Alt, a contributor to ASecureLife.com recommends protecting your pipes by installing more insulation in places like the basement or crawl spaces or under new roofing to help ensure that your pipes won’t freeze and burst while you’re away. And if you’ll be gone during hot months, adding insulation can help keep out the heat or moisture and the potential for mold and mildew to grow.
Speaking of insulation, also remember to check your roofs for any leaks or major/minor damages that could potentially lead to bigger problems while you’re away. To ensure that the roof is in top shape and will be able to stand strong without being damaged even when you’re not there to keep an eye on it, consider getting a thorough roof inspection performed before you leave. You could consult a professional roofer in Macomb, or in places close to where you live, who can repair any minor damages or let you know if the roof needs replacing. More often than not, a few repairs and some maintenance work should keep the roof intact, unless it’s very old, in which case it may need to be replaced.
Landscaping and Yard Work
While traveling, you want to keep your home as safe as possible. This means making sure you’re not an easy target for burglars. And one thing that is a sure sign to burglars that no one’s home is an unkempt yard. That’s why, according to Sue Doerfler, a contributor to USA Today, getting any landscaping or yard work that you have on your to-do list completed before you leave will help make your home appear like someone has recently taken care of it. This could be the perfect way for your home to remain safe even when you’re far from it.
Fix Electrical Issues and Unplug
It’s easy to tell if your electrical is having issues while you’re at home because you can see surges or smell something burning. But if you’re not there to sense these things, it could result in your home going up in flames and you returning to a smoldering pile of ash. So to keep the chances of this happening slim, call a qualified electrician like those found at bouldenbrothers.com/service-areas/electrical/new-castle/ to fix any electrical issues you’re aware of before you leave.
Before you leave for your long trip, it is always wise to get your HVAC appliances like heat pumps, air conditioners, etc., checked by experts. Regular inspection of your appliances can cut down on exorbitant costs in the future. Recurring issues like refrigerant leakage, blown fuses, clogged filters etc., are not desirable for your appliance and it is wise to get it checked by professionals such as Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling (https://castlehomecomfort.com/service-areas/farmer-city/), who are known to provide fast and efficient resolutions for all your HVAC worries!
It can also be good to unplug appliances that have no use while you’re away. Jeanne Baron, a contributor to ThisOldHouse.com, shares that you can also minimize your risk of fire by installing a lightning rod to protect your home from natural electricity as well.
The next time you’re about to leave on a long trip, consider double checking that you don’t need any of the above mentioned repairs to ensure that your home stays safe while you’re away. Isn’t prevention better than cure?