5 Things You Should Do Before Going on Vacation

You've packed your bags, confirmed your reservations, and you're ready for a well-deserved break. But before you head out the door, take 30 minutes to protect your home. A little preparation now can prevent coming back to burst pipes, a flooded basement, or worse. Here are the five things every homeowner should do before leaving for vacation.

1. Shut Off Your Main Water Supply

This is the single most important thing you can do to protect your home while you're away. Water damage is one of the most common—and most expensive—homeowner insurance claims. A burst pipe, failed washing machine hose, or leaking water heater can dump hundreds of gallons of water into your home in just a few hours.

Where to find it: Your main water shutoff valve is typically located near where the water line enters your home. Sometimes it is in the basement, crawl space, garage, or near the water heater. It's usually a wheel valve (turn clockwise) or a ball valve (turn the lever perpendicular to the pipe).

Pro Tip: Test your shutoff valve before you need it in an emergency. If it's stuck or corroded, have a plumber replace it. Also, label the valve clearly so anyone watching your home knows where it is.

Exception: If you have someone watering plants or checking on your home, you may want to leave the water on. In that case, at minimum shut off the valves to your washing machine, dishwasher, and ice maker—these are the most common failure points.

2. Adjust Your Thermostat (But Don't Turn It Off)

It's tempting to turn off your HVAC completely to save money, but this can backfire. In summer, excessive heat and humidity can damage wood furniture, warp hardwood floors, and encourage mold growth. In winter, pipes can freeze.

Recommended settings:

Summer: Set your AC to 80-85°F (27-29°C). This saves energy while preventing humidity damage.
Winter: Set your heat to 55-60°F (13-16°C). This keeps pipes from freezing while minimizing heating costs.

If you have a smart thermostat, you can monitor and adjust remotely—giving you peace of mind and the ability to react if temperatures spike or drop unexpectedly.

Water Heater Tip: Lower your water heater temperature to the lowest setting or "vacation mode" if available. For longer trips (2+ weeks), consider turning it off completely—you're paying to keep 40-80 gallons of water hot that no one is using. Just remember: when you return, you'll need to turn it back on and wait 30-60 minutes for hot water. For gas water heaters, you may need to relight the pilot light.

3. Set Up Light Timers or Smart Lighting

An obviously empty house is an invitation to burglars. The goal is to make your home look lived-in, even when no one is there. The easiest way to do this is with light timers or smart bulbs that turn on and off at realistic times.

What to set up:

Living room lights: On from dusk until 10-11 PM
Bedroom lights: On briefly in the evening, then off
Exterior lights: On a dusk-to-dawn sensor or timer
A radio or TV: Consider leaving one on a timer for background noise

Smart Home Tip: If you have smart lights, set random schedules that vary by 15-30 minutes each day. This looks more natural than lights that turn on at exactly 7:00 PM every night.

4. Hold Your Mail and Packages

Nothing screams "nobody's home" like a mailbox overflowing with mail or packages piling up on the porch. Both are magnets for thieves and make it obvious your house is empty.

Your options:

USPS Hold Mail: Request a hold at usps.com/holdmail for up to 30 days (free)
Ask a neighbor: Have someone collect mail and packages daily
Pause deliveries: Temporarily pause Amazon, subscription boxes, and newspaper delivery
Package lockers: Redirect packages to an Amazon Locker or UPS Access Point

Don't forget about newspapers, grocery deliveries, or any recurring shipments that might arrive while you're gone.

5. Secure and Monitor Your Home

Beyond making your home look occupied, take steps to actually secure it and give yourself visibility while you're away.

Security checklist:

Lock all doors and windows — including the garage door and any sliding doors (use a security bar)
Enable your security system — and make sure monitoring is active
Check security cameras — ensure they're recording and you can view remotely
Hide valuables — move expensive items away from windows
Unplug unnecessary electronics — prevents damage from power surges and saves energy

Tell someone you trust: Give a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member a spare key and your contact information. Ask them to check on your home every few days and call you if anything seems wrong. Leave them instructions for how to shut off water, reset the alarm, and who to call for emergencies.

Bonus: Quick Pre-Vacation Checklist

Here's a quick checklist you can run through before walking out the door:

☐ Main water valve shut off (or individual appliance valves)
☐ Thermostat set to vacation mode
☐ Water heater lowered or turned off
☐ Light timers or smart lights programmed
☐ Mail hold requested
☐ All doors and windows locked
☐ Security system armed
☐ Security cameras checked
☐ Garbage taken out (avoid returning to smells!)
☐ Refrigerator cleared of perishables
☐ Dishwasher and washing machine emptied
☐ Neighbor notified with emergency contacts

The Bottom Line

Taking 30 minutes to prepare your home before vacation can save you from coming back to a disaster. The five essentials:

Shut off the water — prevents the most expensive disasters
Adjust the thermostat — save energy without risking damage
Set up light timers — make your home look occupied
Hold your mail — don't advertise that you're gone
Secure and monitor — lock up and stay connected

Create a pre-vacation checklist in House Reminders so you never forget these steps.