[Priebehouse]

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!

[deborahcme]

I usually PDF print good info from these pages to my computer. Or you can screen shoot to save to your phone. Easier to find for me this way.

[Mark1976]

Excellent point- had mine replaced with a metal ball valve

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by Battlebasset

Plenty of good advice here. If you do nothing else, shut off the water. The lawn sprinklers are on a separate system, so it won't be affected.

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.

[smcmahon2002]

Besides turning off the ice maker it’s a good idea to empty it and put a couple water bottles in the freezer to get through a power outage.

[JGibson]

Nobody said turn off gas???

I turn off the gas by calling the gas company and they remove the meter.

It's worth the $40 reconnect fee for the guy to reinstall meter, light hot water heater and make sure the stove and oven pilots all are lit properly.
He also has a gas leak tool that makes sure there is no gas leak.

[jojoturf]

Need active internet for digital thermostats.

[mrf0151]

Originally Posted by SIRE1

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.

So enjoyable to own a home down here and up there too.

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

A lot of great tips here. I wonder if someone can tell me how to bookmark this thread for future reference?

As others have stated, there are a few ways to save this info, including bookmarking, depending upon your preference. Another way (my preference) is to use the "thread tools" located at the top of the first page of a thread and using the drop-down menu, select "show printable version", then save as a pdf file or print it.

Fred

[TerryCamlin]

Originally Posted by SIRE1

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.

I would add to this put Ring Cameras inside and outside of your home. This way you can monitor your home from anywhere. I would not trust any home watch services.

[Caroll]

Originally Posted by Malsua

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.

Where is the area that distinguishes whether you are north or south of route 466? We live in Santa Domingo. When you say you shut off the water, exactly where are you shutting off the water? We have a shut off in the garage and we have a shut off by the street. If we shut off the one in the garage will that shut the irrigation off?

Thanks

[Deden]

take a picture with Ur cell phone.

[Sully2023]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

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.

The list previously identified, was excellent. I would include, consider putting a trickle charge on your car battery, lock the garage doors in case of a hurricane, turn off your garage electronic control devices, remove all trash, put cover on sink drains, I also spray raid along all garage door and home door entry ways. Turn off your electronic water heater if installed. Turn off water treatment systems. I test the water sprinklers a few days prior to leaving to see if they are all working. Based on season, I change the length of time for watering the grass. I also check the charge on my house cameras and electronic front door lock. Turn cameras on as I depart.

[hoot2602]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

So enjoyable to own a home down here and up there too.

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.
2. Don't close interior doors. Leave them partially open. This includes laundry room doors and closets. Again, this is a circulation issue and when air doesn't circulate in the house various odors build up. DO LOCK THE ENTRY DOOR FROM THE GARAGE.
3. Sewer gas is a common problem and hard to get rid of. Make sure that your home watch service (if you have one) runs water from all spickets, toilets and faucets and showers at least once per month. This will help stop the build up of sewer gas and corrosion of internal metal parts.
4. Turn off garage door openers. There have been cases where airplanes generate signals that will open garage doors. This means that if you have a home watcher that they should enter you house via a key through your front door, not using a garage door opener.
5. Have home watchers run your golf cart briefly ( a few block) once per month. Battery tenders are a good idea whether you have a gas or electric golf cart. Older (carburetor) carts will build up shellac when gas evaporates in the carburetor...this is expensive to have services. The biggest issue is running the cart monthly is to make sure all of its parts are working and get exercised, especially the battery.
6. If you leave a car/suv/truck in the garage, have the home watcher start it once per month. Insurance issues abound if a home watcher drives your car. But, starting it and running it in place will keep fluids moving and exercise the electrical system. Low tires are a common problem and if you have a home watcher make sure that he or she alerts you to a low tire. Most newer cars have low tire pressure indicators.

[Lyn Wagner]

Do a screen shot of the ones you want/ then you can print it out.