How to protect your home while south for winter vacation
Keep your home safe and secure with home winterization tips for snowbirds to help prevent damage and theft.
Ways for snowbirds to secure their nests while away
If your family heads south for the winter in pursuit of sunnier skies, similar to 在你度假的时候保护你的家， take measures to protect and winterize your home so you can enjoy the season away without worrying about what you left behind. An empty house is an easy target for burglars, so don't advertise your absence.
Tips to protect your house while you are on vacation
- 你的邮件被扣留了吗?报纸的递送也停止了吗. The post office can hold your mail until you return or you can forward it to your winter location.
- 确保门窗安全. 安装帮助保持你的家不受影响 锁好所有门窗.
- 照明. Make sure t在这里 are bright outdoor lights and time them to turn on at sundown. Set lights on random timers throughout the house to give the appearance someone is home at night.
- 创建一个家庭清单. A 家里的库存 can simplify filing an insurance claim if a burglary or accident does happen while you are away.
- 不要宣传你的旅行. 不't mention your absence on social media and wait until you return to post those travel pictures.
- 拔掉不必要的电器插头. Unplugging TVs, coffee makers and small appliances helps protect against electrical fires or 力量激增.
- Hide the "hide-a-way"key and disable remote key entries. 你不在的时候不会用到它们的.
- 争取邻居的支持. Ask a trusted neighbor to monitor your property while you're away and to inform you about suspicious activity, collect any flyers that are left on your door and possibly park their car in your driveway periodically.
- 除雪. Hire a snow removal service to take care of your sidewalk and driveway.
- DIY家庭安全或报警服务. 一些应用程序连接到你的 家庭安防系统 并提醒你的变化. Others connect your mobile phone with a security camera or webcam to provide remote surveillance.
- 考虑关闭主水阀处的水. Turn water off at the water meter so the water pressure is turned off in the whole house. 关闭主水阀后, flush a toilet or open a faucet to evacuate some of the water from the interior pipes. 也, turn off the water to washing machines and dishwashers to avoid them leaking, 确保你的花园水管是断开的.
Problems that start small in an unattended home can get serious if they're not addressed. 你稍加准备就可以避开它们.
- 防止管道结冰. Add extra insulation around pipes located in the attic, basement or crawlspace and keep the thermostat set at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above. 另外，更换恒温器的电池. Some thermostats offer remote control so you can check and change your home's temperature while you're away. Install a whole house water leak detection system that will alert you in the event of a leak. 然后，您可以从远处安排服务. 这个有用的指南有更多的技巧 防止管道结冰 以及家里的水害.
- 清理排水沟，修剪树木. Cut down any dead limbs or trees near your house that could fall under heavy snow or ice. 清洁所有排水沟，帮助排干融化的冰, possibly preventing water from building up and causing 屋顶上的冰坝.
- 防止害虫. Throw out any food not in an airtight metal or glass container. Then empty, clean and defrost your refrigerator and freezer. 也 inspect your home's foundation, inside and out, and seal any openings.
确保你的家里准备了一些 DIY防寒技巧.
