Originally Posted by Malsua (Post 2223014)

Most homes north of 466 use potable water for irrigation. If you shut off your water, you shut off your irrigation. Some have a T before the main home whereby if you shut off the house, the irrigation can still run. This is, however, an exception, not the rule.

South of 466 most or all of the homes have a separate Irrigation supply and you can safely turn off the water to the home.

Originally Posted by Battlebasset (Post 2223097)

I didn't realize that, thanks for the correction. So you would pay the sewer charge for that irrigation water? If so, it might be worth the effort to put in the T to save that cost. Or is it somehow metered separately?

Originally Posted by Annie66 (Post 2223119)

Here is our list when we are out of town for more than a week or more.

1 Set the house thermostat at 80-82 deg F. Leave the air conditioning on.
2 Leave all doors open and fans running.
3 Turn off the gas at the manifold in the attic.
4 Place the water heater selection valve to the off position.
5 Put a small amount of vegetable oil in the garbage disposal, and run (without water) for 1-3 seconds.
6 Place bleach in the toilet bowl ---- not the tank.
7 Cover the toilet bowl and tank with plastic wrap. Draw a large X on the plastic wrap (for obvious reasons).
8 Take outside thermometer sensor indoors.
9 Close all the blinds and draperies.
10 Remove everything from the lanai, porch and outside, and place indoors.
11 Turn off the ice maker. Do this prior to turning off the water to the house. Empty the ice maker.
12 Lock all windows and doors (including dead bolts).
13 Run 1/2 cup of vinegar and water through the Keurig and then run several cups of tap water through to clear the vinegar from the Keurig reservoir.
14 With the exception of lights on timers, unplug everything (washer, dryer, printers, toaster, coffee pot, microwave, wireless phones, lamps, etc.).
15 Turn off the water at the valve in the garage. At one of the sinks, release the pressure for both the hot and cold-water supplies. Be sure to close the faucet value once the pressure has been released.
16 Pour a small amount of bleach in each sink trap and put the stoppers in the sinks.
17 Put some bleach in the shower drain and cover the drain with pliable plastic.
18 Empty and take out all the garbage.
19 After backing the car out of the garage, lower the door, and set the wall pad button to the off/security position. Or, you can pull the plug on the garage door opener.

Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2222861)

When leaving the Villages for extended periods (>6 months), what services to your home is it cost effective to shut down while you're gone? I think cable tv can be shut off and still keep WiFi, but anything else?

Also, I saw a thread offering many good tips about home shut-down procedures for Snowbirds here a few months ago, but can't seem to find it again -- any help? Sorry- still learning how to use these Forums.

Originally Posted by SIRE1 (Post 2222906)

We are also seasonal residents and I've made a check list on an Excel spread sheet so I can use it every year when leave. Also, it is a good reminder of what I need to re-do when we get back. Here are just a few items on my list. If you would like a copy of my actual list, PM me.

1. Put golf bags and bag chairs into bedroom closet because garage gets too hot and will destroy fabric type materials.
2. Unplug Power to TV & DVD (leave Cable Box & Modem ON if put cable on Vacation).
3. Put Printer ink in Zip Lock Bag and place bag in refrigerator.
4. Run water in tub to fill drain trap, Shut Tub & Sink drain stoppers to minimize evaporation and bugs from getting into house.
5. Put porch/lanai furniture into the garage in case of storm or hurricane.
6. Remove battery from all remotes: Comcast, TV, & sound bar (we had battery go bad and corroded the TV remote).
7. Unplug Coffee Maker, Toaster, & Microwave.
8. Turn off refrigerator Ice Maker and put baking soda boxes in refrig & freezer.
9. Take down anything outside that might get ruined or blown away in a bad storm/hurricane.
10. Check and clean/replace furnace air filter, and add 1 cup vinegar to the A/C drain line.
11. Clean out sprinkler rings and set watering settings for summer.
12. Turn Off Water Heater and Main House water supply.
13. Stop Daily Sun Newspaper Delivery (352) 751-7964 .
14. Set A/C to 79 or 80 (want it to run to minimize humidity) Not worried too much about furnace heat.
15. Begin forwarding Florida Mail USPS.com and stop forwarding mail to Florida (allow 10 days pipeline).
16. Change Billing Mailing Addresses for accounts that you set up with the Florida address.
17. Set up someone as a home watch representative to regularly inspect your home (may be a neighbor).
18. Advise your lawn service company with a local contact number of that Home Watch representative.

Originally Posted by hoot2602 (Post 2223085)

After watching approximately 200 different homes over a 6 year period, you'd be surprised at how many people leave windows unlocked! Be sure when locking windows that have plastic keepers (most do) that the keeper is firmly seated in the slot. The aluminum window frames may bend and when you close the keeper it may not seat in the slot.Rather, it will push the aluminum frame out. I estimate that 10% of the homes that I've watched leave something unlocked. Other things that are a good idea:
1. Don't close the toilet seats. When closed there is no circulation thus, mold will build up in toilets. Many people are afraid that critters (snakes, frogs and bugs) will come up into the toilet. I haven't seen it in my 6 years of doing home watches..

Originally Posted by SIRE1 (Post 2222906)

We are also seasonal residents and I've made a check list on an Excel spread sheet so I can use it every year when leave. Also, it is a good reminder of what I need to re-do when we get back. Here are just a few items on my list. If you would like a copy of my actual list, PM me.

1. Put golf bags and bag chairs into bedroom closet because garage gets too hot and will destroy fabric type materials.
2. Unplug Power to TV & DVD (leave Cable Box & Modem ON if put cable on Vacation).
3. Put Printer ink in Zip Lock Bag and place bag in refrigerator.
4. Run water in tub to fill drain trap, Shut Tub & Sink drain stoppers to minimize evaporation and bugs from getting into house.
5. Put porch/lanai furniture into the garage in case of storm or hurricane.
6. Remove battery from all remotes: Comcast, TV, & sound bar (we had battery go bad and corroded the TV remote).
7. Unplug Coffee Maker, Toaster, & Microwave.
8. Turn off refrigerator Ice Maker and put baking soda boxes in refrig & freezer.
9. Take down anything outside that might get ruined or blown away in a bad storm/hurricane.
10. Check and clean/replace furnace air filter, and add 1 cup vinegar to the A/C drain line.
11. Clean out sprinkler rings and set watering settings for summer.
12. Turn Off Water Heater and Main House water supply.
13. Stop Daily Sun Newspaper Delivery (352) 751-7964 .
14. Set A/C to 79 or 80 (want it to run to minimize humidity) Not worried too much about furnace heat.
15. Begin forwarding Florida Mail USPS.com and stop forwarding mail to Florida (allow 10 days pipeline).
16. Change Billing Mailing Addresses for accounts that you set up with the Florida address.
17. Set up someone as a home watch representative to regularly inspect your home (may be a neighbor).
18. Advise your lawn service company with a local contact number of that Home Watch representative.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2222994)

This is a webpage. You can use your browser options to bookmark any webpage. You can also use the TOTV search function to find threads.

Originally Posted by Priebehouse (Post 2223004)

This list mirrors our Seasonal Shut Down list with one missing...open closet doors. There is nothing worse than coming back to to coming back to your Florida wardrobe smelling like a pile of musty rags. Other than that, YOU GOT IT!:coolsmiley:

Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2222861)

When leaving the Villages for extended periods (>6 months), what services to your home is it cost effective to shut down while you're gone? I think cable tv can be shut off and still keep WiFi, but anything else?

Also, I saw a thread offering many good tips about home shut-down procedures for Snowbirds here a few months ago, but can't seem to find it again -- any help? Sorry- still learning how to use these Forums.