Technical > Home Improvement > What to leave on - empty house

reply to ImpldConsent

Re: What to leave on - empty house

* PD - Check (neighbor is PD ... neighborhood is fairly safe ... they have a house-watch program as well)
* Furnace - is gas - electric ignition - is 55F good? Warmer?
* AC - yes, I'm concerned about humidity, so I want to stick with that. I'll check my TStats. They're new Trane systems (8months old) and I haven't read all the features/functions.
* Fridge/Freezer - Check on open doors
* Toilets - Check

I've got a great list going on. I appreciate the experience. This is the first time we'll be leaving our 'baby' alone. Scares the $#!+ outa me, but my wife being with family/friends on this last ride is healthy for her. TY'all ( --not bad for a Colorado/Georgia transplant eh?).
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That's "MISTER" Kafir to you.

reply to ImpldConsent
I see you have uVerse-don't forget to sever the telco lines if you can.

I know several people who have beach homes-most leave general circuits on like I think you have decided to do (for night lights/timers.) They simply unplug all the nonessentials/cut breakers for the same.

Thank you, and good luck. The Kudzu, red clay, and collards will be waiting on you

reply to ImpldConsent
Do you have someone who can house sit or at least check on your house regularly?

Here's a tip and it's a biggie. Most people are unaware of this, as I was. Regular home owners insurance often is void if a home isn't occupied or lived in for an extended period. 30 days is a common time-frame. Leave the house unoccupied and find out the hard way if something happens to the home---- the coverage is void or severely curtailed and they won't cover damages or losses.

You may need Vacancy insurance. Do you have an alarm system and someone you trust with the code and willing to have the alarm company notify them if there is a problem?

»www.insure.com/home-insurance/ho···ish.html

--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

reply to ImpldConsent
i was going to say leave fridge and freezer doors open but have been beaten to it. In addition to leaving them open put a box of baking soda on each side (fridge and freezer compartments). The fridge is something you can cut by the breaker if on its own circuit so you wont have to pull it out to unplug it. Maybe leave a box of baking soda in dish washer too. All important if your wife is to be back before you show her where and how to turn everything back on. Maybe write down a check list of everything you did that needs to be turned back on. If leaving land line service on forward all calls to a cell phone such as one your wife will have with her. leave an emergency contact number to your wife or something in case a storm hits and damage like the roof or something needs emergency repair. Set electric bill up on automatic payments with a credit card or something. Same with any other bills that must be maintained.

reply to ImpldConsent
Remember to leave the washing machine open - especially if a front loader as mold and mildew love to grow during disuse. Some front loaders leave a quart or two of water in the tub. Best to let it evaporate.

BTW - had a plumber install a heavy duty water cutoff in my garage. 2" inlet pipe and cost was only $138. Great peace of mind during any absence as street valve never fully closes.

Stay safe, God Bless You and Yours.

Thank You for Serving!

reply to ImpldConsent
Do you have separate heat and AC systems? Reason I ask is I am wondering how you will setup the 80/55* split between heating and cooling if it is on one system? Is there an automatic heat/cool function in the thermostat settings?

If it is a new Trane the thermostat probably has humidity control built into it. This function may not be enabled however, try calling your HVAC installer and ask them.

55* may be a reasonable number, but 50* would work also. The big thing is to keep pipes from freezing.
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The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

Thank you for your service.

Unplug TV's and etc.

Have someone check your house, inside and out at least once per week. Have a neighbor check the front door daily to remove junk flyers and have same neighbor check the mail box for mail (subs often leave mail when mail is held or forwarded).

Put jewelry and important papers in a safe deposit box at your bank. Have backups of your computers stored in a safe location or in a cloud service.
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Team Discovery

reply to ImpldConsent
BTW Thanks for your service!!

reply to ImpldConsent
Great info on insurance, I'd never thought about that. I'll call USAA here shortly. My AC is 2 x zoned-central split AC/Furnace (gas, electric ignition). The TStats control both heating and air, so, if it gets to 55F-, it kicks on the heat ... 80F+, it kicks on the AC. Just before we close up, we'll have the systems serviced. I'll ask our AC folks the best way to set it up. This Trane systems are amazing - cut our budget-billing from 550 to 190/mth. We've talked to the elect company and they recommend going direct-usage billing based on the "lack" of consumption and the current "credit" that our account is enjoying.

Uverse - check
House sitter/checker - check
Insurance - check(ing)
Baking soda/fridge - check
Washing machine - check

Truly, from the bottom of our hearts -- TY. We've done the deployments, but never leaving the house. This is why I paid for BBR/DSLR - what a great community.
--
That's "MISTER" Kafir to you.

reply to ImpldConsent
You better remove or fasten down your outside AC condenser unit or it will end up in the hands of copper thieves. A vacant house in the Atlanta area doesn't stand a chance against copper thieves. Copper theft is running rampant around here, as you've probably seen on the news every night.

It would be best if you had a friend or relative to visit or stay in your house a couple days a week so it looks like someone still lives there. It's the best way to deter the crooks.

And best of luck on your tour and a safe return.

reply to ImpldConsent

Check with your home insurance. If nobody is going to be in your house that may void any home insurance you have

reply to ImpldConsent
I have nothing to add, but thank you for your service! My brother is currently in the middle of a tour in Afghanistan with the Marines (but he is Navy).

reply to ImpldConsent
In case you check in again, thanks for your service. My son-in-law and his brother did 2 tours in Afghanistan.

A note on the safe deposit box - be sure to have additional (notarized if necessary) copies kept in a bank in your wife's new area. Just in case. My mother's best friend had to be admitted to a nursing home, several states away, and my mother's health was not good enough to hop a plane and get into the joint safe deposit box. My sister lived a few hours away (from BF) and it was a legal paper mess, faxing authorization forms back and forth between attorneys, so that she could access the box on behalf of my mom.