Leaving our CYV

[sunglow]

We just bought our CYV and now sadly must leave it for a couple of months. What temperature should we leave the A/C on? And is there anything else we need to be aware of? Thanks for your help!:)

[graciegirl]

There is a litst somewhere, but we left the AC at 83. We shut off the water in the garage and did obvious things like removing stuff from fridge.

The worst part when you begin living in your home here whether to return or just to leave for awhile...is the leaving.

[cathyw]

Here's a link to a checklist created by Lyle Gant ( another poster on TOTV)
Thank you, Lyle.

SNOW BIRD Checklist - Talk of The Villages (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/lyle-gant-%96-realtor%AE-helping-customers-become-%93villagers%94-301/snow-bird-checklist-57958-post534459/#post534459)

[asianthree]

do you have someone the check on your cyv..its peace of mind

[bonrich]

We have a list we use to make ready for the annual "shut-down".
Pull plugs on TV (s), disc player, microwave.

Turn off breakers to cook stove, dish washer, hot water heater. After turning off the breaker to the hot water tank, I run the hot water out and replace it with fresh cooler water. Then shut off water to house.

Put the garage door opener to lock position

We had a humidistat installed by Munns to control the humidity and the cooling in the house. The humidistat is set at 60% and the a/c is set at 78 degrees. If the humidity rises above 60% it turns on the a/c as it is needed. Humidity is the culprit.

You can saran wrap the toilets if you do not have a home watch person that comes in and flushes on inspection. Can also cover the drains in sinks and showers to keep the traps from drying out.

We usually get a package of vinyl painters drop covers to go over the beds, etc.

Turn off ice maker in freezer.

Of course, cancel newspaper, put your tv, etc. on vacation, set up post office for your mail transfer.

We put in a couple of timer light switches for our lamps.

Also, we have mixed info on turning on the fans on low speed in all the rooms. Last couple of years we have not.

If we have clothes in our drawers, we leave them partially open. Also we buy a product called Damp-Rid at Walmart or Home Depot. 3 in a box. We hang them in our closets, and you would be surprised of how much water is collected in those bags when you come back.

Hope that helps. Everyone has their "list" and it could more or less detailed as time goes along.

[Joaniesmom]

We are in the opposite configuration. We bought our CYV in April and are moving down next month. Here is the addy of the wonderful lady who has cared for our place in the intervening months. She's also great to email when you can't sleep in the middle of the night! Home - Let Dee Do It 4U (http://letddoit.webs.com/) Thanks so much, Dee!

[George Bieniaszek]

Totally agree with all the posters and cannot add any additional comments that were not addressed. We do not do all the things that were mentioned, but other than unplugging expensive toys and appliances, turning the water and ice maker off, putting the garage door opener on the "lock" position and turning the Humidistat on to eliminate any mold issues in the CYV.

Because our CYV would be empty a couple of times each year and up to 3 months during the summer, one of the first things we added was a Humidistat through Munn's. I think it cost around $100 and you will save that in electric costs very quickly.

[jnieman]

Totally agree with all the posters and cannot add any additional comments that were not addressed. We do not do all the things that were mentioned, but other than unplugging expensive toys and appliances, turning the water and ice maker off, putting the garage door opener on the "lock" position and turning the Humidistat on to eliminate any mold issues in the CYV.

Because our CYV would be empty a couple of times each year and up to 3 months during the summer, one of the first things we added was a Humidistat through Munn's. I think it cost around $100 and you will save that in electric costs very quickly.

I think a humidistat is very important especially if you have wood or laminate floors. We checked on a friend's house when he was out of town and he had his humidistat set too high and his wooden engineered floors were very sticky and the house smelled moldy. He has his air set at 80 degrees and the humidistat set at 75%. We turned down the humidistat to 50% and the air down to 78 degrees and everything went back to normal after a day or so.

[George Bieniaszek]

I think a humidistat is very important especially if you have wood or laminate floors. We checked on a friend's house when he was out of town and he had his humidistat set too high and his wooden engineered floors were very sticky and the house smelled moldy. He has his air set at 80 degrees and the humidistat set at 75%. We turned down the humidistat to 50% and the air down to 78 degrees and everything went back to normal after a day or so.

YES!! 75% is too high of a setting. The instructions that came with our humidistat recommended 60% and we have had no mold issues at all at that setting. Air is set at 80 degrees.

[CaptJohn]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you folks simply invited me as a house sitter until I get moved there?
Just think: nothing to forget that can't be easily corrected, commodes flushed, water run to keep pipes clean from rust, yard mowed/weeded/watered, golf cart charged up, mail brought in and piled up, sinkholes filled. No fees to house watchers, lawn mowing service (I like to mow grass for excercise), etc. Complete peace of mind. :laugh: