Now that the dog days of summer are here, it seems as if everyone I know is trying to squeeze in a vacation before the kids go back to school.
We all make a checklist before we leave: Have the mail held at the post office, put the lights and radios on timers and turn off the alarm clock so it doesn't beep the entire time you're gone.
While these items are important to protecting your house from thieves, I'd like to add a few things to your checklist that will help protect your house and the systems in it while no one is there.
Of course, it's always a good idea to tell a trusted neighbor when you will be away and where you can be reached. That way, if they see that your sprinklers are on for three straight days, they will know that you're not just a water-waster, and they'll turn it off for you.
Be aware that power outages or a loose plug from your refrigerator or freezer could result in spoilage if the appliance goes off while you're away.
Make sure that your freezer is not plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, a safety feature designed to turn off if someone is getting shocked. These devices are prone to tripping unpredictably. As an inspector, I see this quite often, and it can lead to a lot of spoiled food, but it is easily avoided.
While it will be obvious to you if the refrigerator has been without power the entire time you were gone, a dangerous possibility is that it was off only part of the time you were gone.
You might come home to find all the clocks blinking, telling you that the power was interrupted while you were gone, but knowing how long the power was off is essential in determining whether your food is still fit for consumption. If the power was off for a day or more, the food might have spoiled, then frozen or chilled again before you arrived home.
Food spoilage illness is a lot more common than most people think, and mayonnaise, meat, dairy products and prepared foods can pose a serious threat to your health if not stored properly.
An easy safety check is to turn a tray of ice cubes upside down in the freezer while you are gone. If they are still in the tray when you arrive home, you can be relatively sure that even if the power was interrupted, the temperature inside remained adequate to protect the contents.
If the ice has melted from inside the overturned trays, resulting in a frozen puddle on the floor of your freezer, it's time to get the trash can and empty the refrigerator.
Turn off the water supply to toilets and water faucets that you know can sometimes run or drip. This will save on your utility bill, and unless you have someone house sitting, there's not much purpose for these to be on.
You might not realize how many times a day you try to tighten a dripping faucet, but it's not much fun to come home to a dribbling faucet, especially if the drain is closed.
Finally, with all these measures in place, you will really be able to relax and enjoy yourself knowing that your house is safe and waiting for you when you return. It's so nice to get away, but somehow it's always nicer to come home.
Inspector's Eye
Dean Uhler has been a home inspector for more than 12 years and is president of Baltimore-based Boswell Building Surveys Inc. Uhler is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and is the treasurer of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of ASHI.
Questions, with name, address and daytime telephone number, about homes and home inspections can be faxed to 410-783-2517, e-mailed to real.estate@baltsun.com or mailed to Inspector's Eye, Second Floor, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21278-0001.
