ChiMom
Somerset, NJ
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We're leaving for a 3-month Alaska trip next week. Our home will be checked on periodically, but do you have any suggestions for things to do to keep it safe. I'm debating shutting off the main water valve--are there any cons to doing that? TIA.
Barbara, Florence, Rascal (bad chihuahua) and Magoo (baddest chihuahua)
2007 Pleasure-Way Ford Excel TD: Miss Daisy
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Valkyriebush
Yuma/Port Townsend
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That time of year, heck yeah, turn the water off. and the hot water heater. Have fun. Unless you experience extreme weather hot or cold either way, that should do it.
Command Master Chief (AW) USN, (ret)
2003 Fleetwood Excursion 330 Turbo Cat 39D
2000 Jeep GC
2005 Big Ruckus (Rides Behind Jeep)
2003 VTX 1800
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rk911
Wheaton IL
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check with your local law enforcement agency and see if they do vacation watches. our town's police do that for residents. they come by once a day if we're gone less than a month and once a week if we're gone more than a month.
presumably you've done all the usual things like stop the mail, papers, arrange to have the grass cut, alerted the neighbors, etc.
have a good trip.
73,
rich, n9dko
www.bananaboatbytes.com
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fulid. He says he can stop anytime.
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2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
'46 Willys CJ2A
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'10 Jeep Liberty KK
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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What are you doing about paying bills that may come in the mail while you are gone?
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
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One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
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Fizz
Ottawa, Canada
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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When my friend was gone for a few months the water tank on his toilet cracked, don't know why. Good thing the water was off otherwise the water would have run non stop.
You just never know what could happen.
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Tothill
BC
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Check with your insurance company. Some require regular check ins, with a log book to back them up.
We turn off the water heater if we are going to be gone more than a week. We have daily check ins to feed the cats and water the plants weekly.
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lanerd
Newport, OR
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If you have propane or natural gas, I highly recommend you turn them off. We have lots of trees and shrubs and are on an automatic drip system, so we can't turn our water off but we do turn off the water heaters.
We inform our neighbors to watch the house for us and to let us know (cell phone) if they see a moving van out front. We also have a friend that comes over once a week and inspects the inside of the house for any problems. Last year a mouse got in somehow, and she dealt with that very quickly.
I don't know if this applies in NJ, but we also remove our other vehicles (the ones that stay at home) from our insurance and notify the DMV of non-operation. This cuts back on the insurance bill. All it takes is a simple email (or phone call) to the insurance company and DMV to put them back in operating condition.
have a great trip..
Ron
Ron & Sandie
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RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
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Jay Pat
Round Rock, TX
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Use timers in different rooms with lamps. Looks like someone is there.
Put a 3x5 card on front door, saying,
"Day Sleeper. Please do not disturb. Thank You."
Maybe, neighbor can park in driveway.
Empty, Ice maker and turn off. With defrost cycling, cubes can turn to "solid" ice.
2010 Ford F-350 SRW
2011 Keystone, Sprinter 310
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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Bot my parents, and good friends did a gathering of their most precious irreplacable trinkets and valuables and hid them in a secret place.
Both reported to the Police when they returned that they had been burglarized, and items were missing.
And both found the stashed goodies after a few days or about six months for my parents.
Write a letter to yourself that will be the clue you need when you open it to remember where you stashed it. When you check your mail on your return it will trigger your memory.
Mike and Carole
2007 Snowbird 9'6" Super Slide
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
2000 F350 7.3 SC 4X4
previously 8'10" Snowbird Camper
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL SOLD!
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dzzz
US
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lanerd wrote:........ We have lots of trees and shrubs and are on an automatic drip system, so we can't turn our water off but we do turn off the water heaters.
..............
An added valve or two might allow shutting off water to most of the house.
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