5 Steps to Eco-Prep Your Home Before Vacation

Tip: Shut off your main water valve before leaving the house to ward against water damage. Photo: Shutterstock

4. Protect your home from damage

Nothing puts a damper on a fun-filled vacation like coming home to heat, water or mold damage in your home. Prevent an unfriendly welcome by taking a few precautionary steps before you hit the road.

Start by shutting off the main water valve. This is one of the most important preventative steps you can take, as leaks and broken pipes can cause significant damage to both the interior and exterior of your home if left unattended. Also, turn the circuit breaker for your stove and oven off before departure to save energy and reduce the risk of fires.

Tips for Eco- (and Budget-) Friendly Travel: HOW TO: Travel Around the World on $75 a Day

Programming your thermostat to a low setting will go a long way toward preventing heat damage while you’re away. But if your hometown is especially humid in the summer, you may want to use a dehumidifier to stave off mold damage as well.

Some smart thermostats include built-in humidity detectors. So, if you have a smart thermostat and dehumidifier incorporated into your home’s HVAC system, this will take the majority of the guess-work out of warding against mold damage.

If not, simply use portable dehumidifiers on low settings instead. Place your dehumidifier near a sink or shower and position the drainage tube so the water can go down the drain. You may also want to prop open your dishwasher door to prevent mold growth inside (yuck!).

NEXT: Stay secure the eco way