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Leaving Los Angeles for the Holidays? 5 Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re Away

December 23, 2018

Though no one wants to imagine a burglary or other crime happening on their property while they are away, these types of things happen. If you plan on leaving your home to travel for the holidays, it’s important that you take some extra steps to secure your house before you leave. That way, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your home is safe and undisturbed in your absence.

Here are a few tips for keeping your home safe during the holidays while you’re away:

1. Pause your mail delivery.

If you’re going to be gone more than just a couple of days, you may want to pause your mail delivery. There is no bigger sign that you and your family are away than mail piling up in your mailbox or packages left for several days on the porch. If a neighbor or friend is able to pick up your mail, that’s great. But if not, you may want to pause it while you are gone and resume delivery once you’ve returned.

2. Purchase a light switch timer.

You don’t want to leave your lights on the entire time you are gone. This is a waste of energy and money! Instead, purchase a light switch timer. This will turn your lights on and off on a programmed schedule. With the lights on, it will appear as if someone is home. But by using a timer, you don’t have to waste energy to benefit from this tactic.

3. Don’t mention your travel plans on social media.

One common mistake that homeowners make when leaving for an extended period of time is chatting about their travel plans on social media. When you make a post about the dates and times you will be gone from your home, this opens you up to a potentially harmful situation. Notify your friends and family members separately and privately rather than posting publicly on your social media.

4. Ask a friend to check in while you’re away.

If you have a neighbor, friend, or family member who will be home during the holidays, you may want to ask them to check in on your home while you’re gone. Whether they just drive by a few times during the week or actually enter your home to bring in the mail, water your plants, etc. – this can make a big difference in helping keep your home safe.

5. Adjust your thermostat before you leave.

You may be tempted to just turn off your heating and cooling system before you leave for the holidays. However, your HVAC system plays a vital role in keeping your home environment balanced, including humidity control. If you want to return to a home that’s comfortable instead of one that’s sticky or stale, then you should adjust your thermostat before you leave closer to the average temperature outside. This will help you save energy (and money) while still keeping your home climate balanced.

If you’re staying home this holiday season and experience an HVAC issue, don’t hesitate to give us a call: (310) 810-2721.


About The Author

Brody Pennell

Since 1945, Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning is the committed to helping homeowners in the greater Los Angeles area experience total home comfort. In 2021, the readers of the Los Angeles Times voted Brody Pennell the Best HVAC Company in the area.

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