Vacation time is here! You’re so eager to hit the road that you’re not thinking about misfortunes that could strike your house when you’re gone.
Our purpose is not to spoil your fun or convince you to cancel your plans. Quite the reverse! We’re here to share a few common-sense precautions so you can enjoy a more worry-free vacation.
Let’s take a look at some common home disasters that can occur during vacation time.
Hot hot hot!
Summer is famous for thunderstorms and lightning-related home fires. When nobody’s around to call 911, a fire can gulp down your house for lunch. The best solution is a professionally installed lightning rod. Get the message? Don’t do this yourself. Any metal protrusion on your house must be grounded properly to prevent disaster.
Call a licensed electrician to install your lightning rod.
Another source of home fires is faulty or failing wiring. If you live in an old house, be sure to have your wiring checked by a professional before going away.
Finally, it helps to have a neighbor you trust keep an eye out for you and call 911 in event of fire.
Lawn death
All the recent hot weather can fry your lawn, opening it to insect invasion. While excessive heat scorches your grass, extreme heavy rainfall makes it vulnerable to disease and fungus. Your best bet while you’re gone is to leave the number of your lawn care service with a trusted neighbor, in case of an emergency. Offer the same when your neighbor goes away. Fair is fair.
Burglary
Going away on Wednesday for two weeks? Why not just advertise it to the world on Facebook? Criminals like to troll the Internet for opportunities. And don’t let your kids share your vacation plans on all their social media venues. Save your vacation pictures until you get home.
If you plan to be gone for a while, arrange with your lawn service to keep your grass mowed, and place a hold on mail and newspaper deliveries. If you’re not inclined to suspend your mail service, ask a trusted neighbor to collect your mail daily.
Keep motion-activated lights operational while you’re gone. Burglars work best in the dark.
Home invasion
We’re talking about pests, not robbers! Bees, wasps, yellow jackets, bats, rats, or squirrels can find their way in and wreak havoc on your home. They build nests in your wood framing, munch their way through electrical wires, and leave droppings in their wake.
If a rat gets electrocuted chewing through wires, it will begin to decompose quickly in the summer heat, and the stench can become unbearable.
Be sure to keep your eave vents screened securely, and do the same with openings in your crawlspace.
Do a visual inspection regularly for places around your home where varmints can enter, and be sure to keep them sealed securely.
I think that I shall never see a thing as heavy as a tree…
As mentioned above, summer means storms! Think high winds, heavy rain, saturated soil, and falling trees or limbs. A falling tree can really do a number on your house!
Check out the trees around your home. Are there old, vulnerable trees within falling distance of your roof, or huge, heavy branches hanging overhead? If so, call a certified arborist to come out and take a look. They know how to spot warning signs that might spell trouble for your house. Do this a few months before you plan to leave on vacation.
While on your property, an arborist can cut back overhanging branches, which are best kept at least eight to ten feet from your roof line. Also, they can identify trees that are notorious for uprooting, such as Bradford pears, which might spell disaster in high winds.
When spores attack!
Summer heat and humidity are a perfect recipe for spores. That’s why your HVAC system is your friend, especially when you’re away on vacation. The system not only keeps your home cool, but it draws humidity from inside to outside.
Never leave the AC turned off when you go away. Just a few days are all it takes for spores to take root and fill your home with mold. Keep the AC set at 77 while you’re gone. That should be enough to keep mold at bay.
Water, water everywhere
Do you have known issues with your foundation? I you answered yes, then it’s imperative to keep water at bay. Be sure your yard is graded away from your house, and keep your rain gutters clear to prevent water from running down to your foundation. You may even have to install a French drain to carry water away.
There are other ways water can trash your home when you’re not there. One of the biggest culprits is that aging water supply or drain hose on your washing machine. If you see any suspicious bulges, it’s time to replace them. Also, to be on the safe side, turn off the water supply to your washer before you drive away.
Don’t forget that ancient water heater. If it fails while you’re gone, it can send its whole 75-gallon load rushing across your house. If your water heater was installed back in the Jurassic days, it is probably best to cut the power, turn off the water supply, and drain the water out before you go, if possible. But BEWARE! When you return, you MUST turn on the water supply and fill the tank before switching on the power, to avoid burning out the heating elements.
Take these tips to heart for peace of mind during your vacation.
Buying or selling a home in Western North Carolina?
Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.
