Prepping the house for Christmas holiday

joshp1407

Hi all,

This year is our first year in our own (non rent) house. Over Christmas before I've just left heating on for a couple of hours each day, because of notes left by agents etc.

We're spending Christmas this time at the in laws so could be away for a week. What am I supposed to do before I leave?

Curtains closed?
Christmas tree lights on timer?
Heating on timer or thermostat set low?
Ask neighbour to check up?

I'm a bit neurotic when it comes to condensation, damp, water in general hah.

Thanks in advance!

Ebe_Scrooge

In terms of security, curtains are an issue - whether they're left open or closed, it gives the hint that no-one's at home. Lights on a - random - timer can be a help, but by far the best thing is a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on it for you, and perhaps go in morning and evening to open / close the curtains.

Heating - unless the temperature drops to well below freezing there's usually little problem, and your boiler should have a frost-stat. This will fire it up if the temperature drops close to freezing, overriding whatever the timer says.

However, it probably is sensible to have it programmed to come on sometimes. Personally I have the thermostat set very low, and have it set to come on for a couple of hours at about 1 am or so ( when it's likely to be coldest ). It's a toss-up between burning fuel needlessly, but avoiding expensive repair bills. If your house is well-insulated, this should be enough to keep the interior warmish and prevent freezing or condensation issues.

lazer

joshp1407 wrote: »

Hi all,

This year is our first year in our own (non rent) house. Over Christmas before I've just left heating on for a couple of hours each day, because of notes left by agents etc.

We're spending Christmas this time at the in laws so could be away for a week. What am I supposed to do before I leave?

Curtains closed?
Christmas tree lights on timer?
Heating on timer or thermostat set low?
Ask neighbour to check up?

I'm a bit neurotic when it comes to condensation, damp, water in general hah.

Thanks in advance!

I leave downstairs curtains open. and upstairs curtains closed.


If you are worried about pipes freezing - drain the pipes and tank.


Ask a neighbour to park in drive sometimes, push post in properly etc.


A timer for some lights is a good idea too.

Paully232000

lazer wrote: »

I leave downstairs windows open. and upstairs windows closed.


If you are worried about pipes freezing - drain the pipes and tank.


Ask a neighbour to park in drive sometimes, push post in properly etc.


A timer for some lights is a good idea too.

Why do you leave the downstairs windows open while you are away. I would be worried about doing that.

lazer

Paully232000 wrote: »

Why do you leave the downstairs windows open while you are away. I would be worried about doing that.

Sorry - meant curtains!

Ant555

Why do you leave the downstairs curtains open while you are away. I would be worried about doing that.

It is surely personal preference. My brother closes curtains when he goes away in summer for 2 weeks. To me this shouts 'we are away' and if someone were to break in then they would pretty much have the run of the house without anyone being able to see them!
If I am going round to check post then I will typically move his car so its facing the opposite way round in the drive and a different distance from the house.

I leave curtains open in my own house when away and have a lamp on a timer and we also have the dab radio coming on a talking station on a 'random' timer. Not too loud but enough to be heard in adjacent rooms.

As already suggested, the best defence is often your neighbours but thats not always possible nowadays. Luckily I have neighbours that we trust implicitly and they have a key to move any post.

If you have a window in your porch or front door then I would be worried about any post that can be seen building up if nobody is going to visit.

WobblyDog

I have a cheap network camera which automatically uploads pictures of the inside of my house to a website once an hour. It won't prevent floods, burglaries, etc. while I'm away, but it stops me worrying about them. I sometimes put a digital thermometer in view of the camera, so I know if the temperature is getting too low. I can also see how much post has accumulated on the doormat.

joshp1407

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I would love to ask the neighbours, that's always what we did growing up, but unfortunately we've barely met anyone yet, but I think I might follow advice and ask (offer?) them to use our driveway whilst we're away. You never know, a Christmas card and a gift of a driveway might finally break the ice!

The idea of a webcam WobblyDog is genius! I use one already for my little one, thanks!

I wouldn't know where to start draining the system lazer, so I think the idea of a couple of hours in the night hopefully will work.

Gonna go top curtains closed, bottom open with timer circuits. Might do the trick.

marlot

joshp1407 wrote: »

...
I would love to ask the neighbours, that's always what we did growing up, but unfortunately we've barely met anyone yet...

We're in the same boat. Took the excuse of Christmas to invite them over for mulled wine and nibbles. Easier to do at Christmas than any other time of year.

Paully232000

lazer wrote: »

Sorry - meant curtains!

Oh yes I do that too,

Belenus

Ant555 wrote: »

..If I am going round to check post then I will typically move his car so its facing the opposite way round in the drive and a different distance from the house..

A minor point but starting a car and running it for just a few seconds doesn't do the engine much good.