Our first time closing our villages home
 

Is there a checklist of what to do to close a patio villa down for about two months? I’ve heard of shutting the water supply and the breaker to the water heater. Is there anything else anyone can suggest? We will be away for about 2 months. Thanks in advance

Cover toilet with Saran wrap. This keeps the water from evaporating. If it does you will have sewer gas venting directly into your home.

We turn off water and the breaker like you mention but also empty ice bins and turn off the ice maker.

All suggestions previously stated excellent may I also recommend HUMIDISTAT wired at thermostat temp set 80° and humidity set 60%> been doing this for 10 years no problems…

If ONLY two months away, then really you only have to set the HVAC at 80 and lock the doors. Anything else is a waste of time and not necessary.

Waste of time unless a seal in your toilet goes bad and you get billed for 25,000 extra gals/month.

Waste of time unless the power goes out for long enough for the ice in the freezer to melt and run out the door.

Waste of time unless the water in the toilet evaporates and you come home to a house that stinks like sewer gas.

Turning off the hot water heater is like setting the AC to a higher temp (didn't think about that), it's very easy to do and saves a little electricity.

Some people will tell you to have someone come in, turn on the water, and flush the toilets. If you have someone come in, I would tell them to leave the water off. If the toilets are covered to prevent evaporation, they will be fine for 2 months. You will have peace of mind knowing that you won't have a water leak.

From UF extension office.
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/lakeco/fi...sonal-Home.pdf

Agree.

Our house-watch people use to put a few cubes in a bowl...........if the cubes melted and became one.........the food in the refrig/freezer is probably bad.

Never happened, but a cute step.

:ohdear::ohdear::ohdear:

Did you notice that they didn't tell you to turn off the water? To me, that is the most important thing to do. And, you definitely don't want to cover the drains with duct tape if you leave the water on. A small faucet leak can overflow a sink.

I would suggest that you test the water supply valve well in advance of leaving to make sure that you can turn it off when you leave. Don't wait until the last day.

Thank you!

Thank you all for the quick replies!

Actually I didn’t read the info…..just provided for OP.