Leaving on vacation? Beware. Experts say it's not enough to just lock up
The long weekend is coming up and many folks will be getting away. Don’t just close the windows, lock the door and leave. That could be a mistake.
Before you go, you might want to spend a bit more time around the house. A lot can happen while you’re gone and you need to protect yourself.
Some people might forget the obvious things, like taking out the garbage. How many times do you think folks would make that mistake?
“Once in a lifetime,” said Tim Kester, British Columbia general manager at Reliance Home Comfort.
Kester demonstrated things you should do.
“Clean out anything that might go bad,” he said while opening the fridge.
That doesn’t mean you have to throw it all out. You can freeze of a lot of stuff, like bread and milk, or give away fruits and vegetables.
More important than avoiding spoiled food is making sure you don’t come home to a soggy, water-logged, damaged home.
Shut off the water supply lines to the dishwasher, icemaker and taps.
Even the toilet can be a problem. Kester says hairline cracks can develop in the tank and if the water supply valve is not closed, it will run constantly until you return home. The safest way to handle it all is to shut off the water main valve.
Another precaution you should take is to unplug small appliances and electronics. It can protect them from power surges, prevent short-circuit fires, and save you money on your electric bill, as some appliances continue to draw power even when not being used.
A power strip comes in handy when you want to turn off many items with a single switch.
If you have air conditioning, you might want to turn it up a bit – Energy Star recommends between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius – but don’t turn it off. It could take forever to cool down when you return home. Leaving the AC on helps to control humidity too.
Security
Set your light timers. Some electronic timers have random functions, so if someone is casing your house your lights will not come on and turn off at the same time every day.
“Really minimizing signs that would show you’re not around,” explained Kester.
Forget about the vacation brag on social media. Thieves look for signs that you’ll be away and you don’t want to announce it. Try to save your vacation photos to post when you get home. If you do post regularly on social media, try to make it look like you’re still home with occasional generic post.
Other steps
Other steps to take include: appointing an emergency contact, letting your security monitoring company know that you’ll be away, having someone check on your home to water the plants etc., and be sure to hold your mail and deliveries.
Make a list of things in advance. It will make it easier for you and ensure you don’t forget something.
So that that when it’s time to relax, you really can, knowing you’re protected.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.