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
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
An American soldier was arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, U.S. officials say
An American soldier has been arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, according to U.S. officials. The soldier was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to the United States, but travelled to Russia.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Competition Bureau launches inquiry into Lululemon over 'greenwashing' allegations
Canada's Competition Bureau has launched an inquiry into Vancouver-based Lululemon following a complaint from members of an environmental group.
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc tabled legislation in the House of Commons on Monday proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Bill C-70 proposes to enact a new 'Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act.'