Practical Ways to Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling
As the holiday season stress creeps up on us, many are preparing for travel. When you lock up to leave for your adventure, the last thing you should have to worry about is the safety of your home.
In this post, our licensed electrical contractors share simple yet effective steps to take to keep your home safe and sound while you’re away. We want you to return home without worry. Our best tips are to:
Don't advertise your absence; landscape lighting helps with that
Be smart: Control the lights with automation
Rest easy with a backup generator
Fix up any ‘small’ issues around the house (hint: those taped electrical wires)
Don’t Advertise Your Absence
Although millions of homes are broken into each year, many of these incidents could’ve been prevented if the homeowners had kept their travel plans quiet. Take measures to avoid unsafe scenarios. This may include:
Asking your neighbors or family members to pick up mail and packages
Asking your neighbors or family members to care for home maintenance such as mowing the lawn
Avoiding posting details on social media, especially dates, times, and locations
Simple hacks like having an exterior landscape lighting system can add to the overall safety of your home. Path lighting, silhouette lighting, integrated deck lighting, string lights, when you install landscape lighting you can have your lights turn on automatically when you’re away. Ahh the illusion that you’re there.
Get Smart About Security
Around here, we definitely love lighting controls. Plus, with more and more ‘smart’ electronic devices on the market, there is no reason you shouldn’t have intelligent, automated systems keeping your home protected. Many clients find they are convenient and can save them money.
Since smart home devices can be monitored and controlled remotely, you can set up cameras or sensors to detect and record any movement or sound.
You can also install smart lighting that you can schedule to turn on and off at certain times of the day. We recommend slightly varying the set times on a day-to-day basis to confuse any particularly observant potential intruders.
If any problems occur, such as power issues or open doors, smart devices will notify you immediately. Plus, any issues with your HVAC, water systems, or electrical system will be automatically relayed to your phone too.
Interested in installing lighting controls in your home? Call/text our pros at Axiom Power today!
Invest in a Backup Power Source
If the power goes out for an extended time, your home might as well be asking for unwanted visitors.
Plus, there are more concerns than just invaders without electricity. Your fridge will likely turn into a science experiment and mold may develop from a lack of airflow.
Even smart automation is useless without electricity.
Protect your home when you go on vacation by investing in a backup generator that meets your home’s wattage needs. Our team will help you find and install the best system for your property.
Fix It First: Make Repairs Before You Go
While planning a big vacation, make sure to take care of any necessary repairs around the house. Safety and function should always be a top priority for your home to stay in good condition while you’re gone.
A few things to keep in mind:
Replace burnt-out bulbs both inside and outside
Replace HVAC filters and clean the ducts
Check up on your windows – make sure they aren’t letting air out and aren’t easy to unlock from the outside
Check your smoke and CO2 monitors
Unplug unnecessary electronics and look for any frayed or damaged wiring that could become a problem while you’re away
Learn More > What to Leave Unplugged When Going on Vacation
Stay Safe with Axiom Power
Prepping for a trip doesn’t stop once you book your tickets and pack your bags. You need to prepare your home wisely so you can stay carefree on vacation.
The holidays can be a bit less stressful with Axiom Power. Call/text our electricians today for all of your residential and commercial lighting needs!