Going away for 4 weeks - house prep

longwalks1

We are going away for 4 weeks and was wondering what prep we should do in the house.  We’ve a neighbour keeping an eye out for us, no parcels coming etc, lights on times, gates locked etc. we’ve got front and rear Ring cameras too.

was wondering more indoors prep, we’ve had a bit of plumbing done recently pipes moved etc and there’s always a tiny worry of leaks etc. is it better to turn the water off under the sink at the stopc0ck? And leave the heating to keep the house at maybe 12 devs just in case it drops below freezing while we are away?

we’ve seen the leak detectors that alert you on your phone, I know it probably sounds like massive overkill but would rather that than come home to a kitchen under water.

any things to consider?

FlorayG

Don't do what my dad did - emptied the 'fridge, left the door of it open...and then turned off the freezer by mistake. Came home after three weeks to a huge electricity bill and a big freezer full of rotten stinking food 

IvanOpinion

Remember to ensure you have someone to feed the plants and water the cat

daveyjp

No harm in turning a stop tap off.  For the seconds it takes it's better than a flooded house.

dharm999

Will the heating still work with the water switched off, probably a stupid question, but I don’t mind looking stupid.  If it’s a system boiler is it an issue to switch the water off?

longwalks1

daveyjp said:

No harm in turning a stop tap off.  For the seconds it takes it's better than a flooded house.

Thanks davey, as dharm999 asked, will the central heating (combi boiler) still work with stopc0ck turned off? I’m guessing it will as it’s a pressurised system - but thought I’d double check anyway. 

Bigphil1474

OP, we went away for a month last Christmas and we just unplugged everything, turned the thermostat down to 10C and left keys with a relative to visit a couple of times a week. Neighbour also kept an eye out. I had a lamp in the living room on a timer, and that was about it. We didn't turn the water off as our stop tap was in the street in that house. The boiler was a system boiler and a closed system for the heating, so would have been okay.

We've since moved house and now have a combi but will probably turn the water off this time - stop tap in the house. Boilers will provide heating with water supply turned off. 

teaselMay

I turn the stop tap off, put a bowl under the [old on its last legs] boiler just in case, leave some windows at least on the latch and heating on frost setting.

If you've a neighbour checking have a conversation to check they're on the same sheet as you. My most expensive gas bill for years was over 2 weeks that I was away a few years ago. Neighbour shut all the windows and left the heating on 20 24/7, it was also the only time the house has shown any mould (because no air flow at all). Fortunately I came home after 2 weeks not the planned 4.

An added benefit of smart meters I discovered a few months ago, I'd gone to stay at friends' and could see an odd electricity usage that was way above here baseline should have been. Just as we got in the van one of the dogs bashed their knees and so I nipped back in for ice packs, leaving the freezer door ajar which promptly chugged away for 24 hours resealing itself with ice

DullGreyGuy

You can turn the water off, we never have. Can unplug things, we never have. Have smart thermostat that has frost protect on it anyway but then even going away over winter for 6 months the temp in out home never dropped below the teens. 

Our main one is ensuring you've emptied the bins and anything from the fridge that won't survive the time you're away. Went away for 2 months and came back before the Mrs. Went to put something in the oven and found it full of mould as the Mrs had put some fruit slices in to dry the day before we went away and had forgotten about them. 

Tell neighbours you're away and ideally have someone have a key to pop in and water plants etc.

badger09

Not relevant to OP who is only away for 4 weeks, but most insurance companies set min a temp for houses unoccupied in winter. Often 12C. We leave ours on 24/7 @ 14C when away and it’s only once come on for a very short time. 

We use Tapo smart plugs so lights come on at random times in the evenings. 

Get rid of fridge stuff which won’t last 4 weeks, and don’t forget to empty the kitchen bin!
Happy holiday. 

longwalks1

Thanks everyone, just wanted to check