The Ultimate Guide to Prepare the Home for Summer Vacation Away

"After a relaxing vacation, the last thing you want to do is come home to a home damaged by a water leak or precious possessions missing from a burglary," said Ted Puzio, owner of Southern Trust Home Services. "Fortunately, there are a few simple things homeowners can do to prevent returning home to a disaster."

Puzio offers these tips to help Roanoke residents prepare their home to be empty for a week or more:

1. Turn off water main valve – The number one cause of damage to homes while out of town is from water. A small leak can cause extensive damage to a home if it leaks for more than one day. The best thing to do to prevent these occurrences is to turn water off at the main valve.
2. Turn Air Conditioning up – Air conditioning systems use a significant amount of energy to keep the home cool in the summer months. It is important to set the thermostat up 10 degrees warmer than normal before leaving the home vacant to save money on the energy bill.
3. Flush garbage disposal – To prevent returning home to odors, run a ½ cup of vinegar and warm water down the disposal while it is running. This will clean out any excess residue and ensure there are no unpleasant odors when homeowners return.
4. Set water heater to vacation mode – Water heaters continue to keep working and maintain the hot water inside the unit, even when the homeowners are not home. Many water heaters have vacation mode setting that you can adjust the system. If the unit does not have vacation mode, turn the temperature of the water down, so it will save energy while the homeowner is away.
5. Notify the alarm company – If the home is equipped with an alarm system, Puzio recommends alerting the alarm company that the residence will be vacant. If the alarm system is triggered, the security company will dispatch officers immediately instead of calling the home first.

For Roanoke residents who would like help and suggestions for preparing their homes for vacation, the professionals at Southern Trust Home Services, are ready to assist. For more information, please call 540-343-4348 or visit www.southerntrusthomeservices.com.

About Southern Trust Home Services
Founded in 1995 as Southern State Electric, Southern Trust Home Services provides residential plumbing, electrical and HVAC services, including 24/7 emergency repairs, to homeowners in more than 60 cities throughout southern Virginia. Roanoke's first to offer a lifetime guarantee on all recommended repairs, Southern Trust Home Services staffs dedicated, certified, licensed and insured, drug and criminal background checked technicians who provide timely, same-day services for a variety of home repairs, installations and maintenance. A Better Business Bureau accredited company since 2006, Southern Trust Home Services has financing available including 0 percent for 18 months, and Lifetime Repair Guarantee on stated repairs. To find out more, call 540-343-4348 or visit www.southerntrusthomeservices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
[email protected]

SOURCE Southern Trust Home Services

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http://www.southerntrusthomeservices.com