Where do you live? Some cold beer would be nice in July

Shut refrigerator off, turn thermostat to 82 degrees, turn off water heater, and shut off whole house water. Why would you wanna spend money on electricity when you’re not there? Bin doing this for 15 years and never had any problems.

We cover the bowl of the commodes with Saran Wrap which prevents the evaporation of the water. We are usually away for six months—most of the water is still there when we return. We also cover or use the drain plug on all sinks and shower drains. This keeps the water from evaporating out of the traps.

I would not cover or close the drain plugs. But, if you do, I would make sure that you shut off the main water valve to the house. Otherwise, a small faucet leak could cause the sink or shower stall to overflow.

If you decide to leave the refrigerator turned on, and you turn the main water valve to the house off, you should be aware that if your ice maker uses an electronic ice level detector, (no wire over the ice) It is important the electronic switch is in the OFF position. The switch usually located next to the ice bin. Leaving the ice maker switch on with no water flowing to it, could destroy the ice maker. Your owner's manual should discuss this information.

Thanks for the link. Although, it is not from the source mentioned in Post No. 35.

fridge off, door open, T-stat set to 82, hot water circuit breaker off

The reference to document FCS3154 Closing Your Seasonal Home, to preparing a house for extended vacation or northern travel is very complete. It is for Floridians, so the info is meant for us locals.
Never ask people on this forum what to do because most speak out of ignorance or laziness and don’t bother to read things like this , the manuals, or knowledgable professional technicians.
The key highlights:
Give away food and shut down refrigerator. The comments about having stuff ready when they arrive, really?
Set A/C to recommended setting in the above reference. DO NOT SHUT OFF.
Turn off water heater at breaker. Unnecessary use of electricity.
Turn off water at entrance to house. Anything that leaks will just leave a few drops and will not siphon out the system. All our water is supplied from underneath and won’t be able to be siphoned.
Unplug anything that can get fried in case there is a surge. [SECO can install a whole house surge protector]. Unplug all other low voltage items that can get fried because of the cable connections. The whole house surge protector doesn’t protect that. Just turning off electrical equipment doesn’t mean it is protected. Experience says a surge can jump a switch and whack what is on the other side, such as a microwave oven. It can turn it on and let it run for months.

FYI, my Whirlpool refrigerator manual doesn't recommend turning off the refrigerator. It says that you can turn it off or leave it on, whichever you prefer. If you turn it off, you may save about 5 dollars per month in electricity. For that minimal cost, I would prefer to leave it on.

Why fill with water bottles?

Leave it off.
I can turn mine off at the breaker box or you can just unplug.
Empty and clean refrigerator, leave doors open for both refrigerator and freezer.
I also turn breaker off for hot water heater and any other appliances not going to be in use and unplug anything else not being used.
No sense in paying for electricity you're not using.
If I'm going to be gone for a couple months in winter, I turn AC off at breaker, too. No issues.
Wouldn't turn AC off if I traveled any other time of year.

We turn ours to power saver, empty and turn off the ice maker. We set our A/C to 82.

90% of the time this is best suggestion! Turn it to clean then turn off ice maker. Store as many items in freezer that will freeze and not stress freezer to cool empty space. Turn refrigerator temp up after emptying and cleaning. Running allows oils to lubricate compressor. Shorter periods away might change how you prep refrigerator. Bob's House Watch Service.

90% of the time this is best suggestion! Turn it to clean then turn off ice maker. Store as many items in freezer that will freeze, such as water bottles or containers of water, and not stress freezer to cool empty space. Turn refrigerator temp up after emptying and cleaning. Running allows oils to lubricate compressor. Shorter periods away might change how you prep refrigerator. Bob's House Watch Service.

I disagree with this. If you want to leave it on then remove all perishable food from the freezer. If fridge fails or loss of power for extended period of time (like after a hurricane) the food will thaw. It will leak and ruin the insulation and you will have the worst stench imaginable. I also don't subscribe to the lubricate the compressor theory. How long was it not plugged in after it was manufactured and someone purchased it. That could be a couple years in some cases. I have had a vacation home for forty years and unplug the fridge every winter. Never lost one yet due to lack of compressor lubrication. Leaving it on also subjects you to brownouts which is more likely to kill a compressor. Again don't forget we live where there are hurricanes = loss of power.

It it was me I would empty and turn it off leaving door open. Why let it set there and run for nothing. Plus best way to get good defrost. Way build refrigerator ‘s now day’s you’re running on borrowed time anyway. Now it was the old entry level cheap ones with no ice or water in door then who cares?

I agree, why let is set there and run for months?

Lub compressor theory? only if you lay it down, you have let it stand up so oil will run back where it supposed be before you fire it back up.

I misquoted the source. It is University Of Florida IFAS Extension. Http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. I have followed their recommendations for 22 years as a snowbird and never had a problem yet.

On, with A/C on 82, water and water heater turned off.

So based on the replies we have an answer. Flip a coin and either leave the fridge on or off, or selectively believe one side or the other regarding the various opinions on the issue at hand. Problem solved, kind of? : )

Did you have maggots & Flies when the meat defrosted?

On the water heater it is wise to turn it off. With no demand while you are gone, it will still heat up the water continuously. Kicking on and off as it cools.

Yes. Refrigerator on. Leave in a couple of gallons of water in plastic jugs so it will help cool the refrigerator.

Raise the lids on the toilets otherwise you will have mold from the water evaporating while you are gone. If you are worried about high humidity while you are gone, buy a roll-around dehumidifier and set it in your shower to drain.

I leave mine on and shut off ice maker. The bill is $20 more. Have neighbors check on the house while away.

Advice from our electric company: turn off the breaker to the hot water tank, oven, microwave. Turn off the house water, as your sprinklers will continue to water the lawn. Empty the refrigerator, BUT load it with 5 full gallons of bottled water so it is not totally empty. LEAVE THE REFRIGERATOR ON. In the freezer place a paper cup with a few ice cubes....if they are still ice cubes when you return, you did not lose power....if cubes have melted and turned into solid... you lost power while you were away. Still recommend home watch or a neighbor to have a key in case of an emergency.

Refrigerator
 

I solved the problem by buying a wifi temperature monitor for $50. It uses my wifi to send temperature to my iPhone every 10 minutes and sends an alarm if it rises more than 3 degrees. I always know the status regardless of my location.

If you leave the electric water heater on and shut off the water, the water inside the water heater will start to evaporate and perhaps in 6 month's time, the water level inside will drop low enough to expose the heating coils and will cause a burn out. I suggest that it be turned off.

Just like fridge in a store. Turn it off. Put a towel in the door to keep it open. Turn off the water at main valve to the house. Switch off hot water heater.

Never leave food in fridge that can spoil!
 

One Week before Leaving
Clean refrigerator and freezer. Eat food on hand.

Per: IFAS University of Florida article on Closing your Seasonal Home.

I found it at:
FCS3154/HE887: Closing Your Seasonal Home
It seems well thought out.

A word to the wise from someone who's "been-there-done-that". If you leave it on with food in it, make certain that it's not on a circuit that IS NOT protected by a GFI. We did, a heavy rain blew water into the lamp post, threw the GFI the fridge was on and we returned to a horrible smell in our garage and lost many, $$$$$$ in food. since, I had a separate, non-protected plug installed so that won't happen again.

Refrig on, raise thermostat setting, two 1 gal waters in the freezer to maintain freezer temps when refrig goes into defrost cycle, turn off ice maker, turn off water main valve to house. A/C on 78, heat off, A/C fan on circulate, lower gas water heater temp to lowest setting, garage door control panel on lock, I have a surge protector on my over the range microwave or you can just unplug MW, unplug toaster, Keurig coffee maker, etc. close off all drains in sinks, showers, and tub. Saran Wrap over toilet bowls to prevent water from evaporating, unplug tv, do not turn off internet router so I can check house temps on Wi-Fi / cell phone from up north. And keep fingers crossed that you didn’t forget something 😊

We were going to shut it off but last minute we left it on. The freezer is empty but there were some things in the fridge that we could not take and my wife didn’t want to toss so it is on. Last year we left it on as we planned to return but COVID hit and we didn’t make it down. I did unplug most things or turned off breakers of appliances etc.

Manufacturer recommends turn it off.

Which manufacturer? My Whirlpool refrigerator manual says that you can either leave it on or turn it off. It is your preference. I think there are more Whirlpool refrigerators in The Villages than any other brand.

We’ve left our refrigerator on minimal at around 2 for 4-6 months. I put unopened pantry items like rice, pasta, dog food, canned goods, flour, etc to avoid insect/worm infestations. Ice maker off & jugs of water in freezer.
Humidistat at 55, especially in summer, AC at 78. No problem in over ten years.