Is Your Home Alone?

How to Protect Your Home While You're Away

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Routine Maintenance that Protects All Year Long - Silicone caulk can help reduce drafts and leaks, cutting down on heating and cooling costs.  Seal cracks around all pipes where they exit roofs and exterior walls; flashing seams between the roof and the siding; door and window frames; dryer vent; at the television antenna wire entrance and pipe feed-throughs.

Make sure gutters are clean, downspouts extend away from the foundation and the splash blocks slope away from the house.

Have the roof checked for loose or missing shingles and make any needed repairs. 

Flush your water heater every six months to keep sediment from building up, which can lead to overheating and burnout.  This can be done when/if your tank is drained.

Returning home - restore any services that were discontinued.

Turn on the water valve and/or supply lines to each plumbing fixture and carefully check for leaks.  Seals can dry out when they are without water for a period of time, so run water through every faucet to flush out the water lines and drains to make sure they are in proper working order.

Creating a routine each time you leave your home alone for an extended period of time can reduce the likelihood of a disaster, and keep work to a minimum when you return.

If you would like to see loss prevention tips on a particular topic, please e-mail us at christina@coastalplains.com.  Thank you for visiting our site!