Two things prevent most vacation disasters: shutting off the main water valve, and a thermostat setting that protects the house from temperature extremes. Burst supply lines and washing machine hoses are the most common claim category for "we came home to a flooded house." A thermostat that's too high in summer or too low in winter is the second most common cause of an unpleasant homecoming. The rest of the checklist below is the household-specific layer.
The 10-minute essentials
- Shut off the main water valve, or at minimum the washing machine and ice maker valves.
- Set the thermostat: summer 85°F / winter 55°F as a baseline. Adjust if the house has pets, plants, or hardwood that doesn't tolerate extremes.
- Empty perishable food from the fridge.
- Take out all trash and recycling.
- Unplug small appliances (toaster, coffee maker, lamps without timers).
- Lock every door and window.
- Stop the mail and any home deliveries longer than 3 days.
- Tell one trusted neighbor or friend you're gone, with your dates and emergency contact.
- Set at least one light on a timer (or smart bulb schedule) so the house looks lived in.
- Take photos of every room before you leave (insurance baseline if something happens).
Water: the most important step
The washing machine hoses, ice maker line, dishwasher supply, and any toilet supply line are all under full house pressure 24/7. A failure with no one home runs for the entire duration of the vacation. One inch of standing water in a home commonly causes $25,000 in damage. The fix is simple:
- Trip longer than a week: shut off the main water valve at the meter or the inside main shutoff.
- Trip 3 to 7 days: shut off the washing machine valves and the ice maker valve at minimum. Both are common failure points.
- If you're going to shut off the main, also shut off the water heater (especially gas pilot or electric breaker) so it isn't trying to heat water that isn't moving.
The Insurance Information Institute recommends shutting off the water supply during extended absences as one of the most effective ways to prevent costly water damage.
HVAC: don't turn it off entirely
The temptation is to shut the HVAC off for the energy savings. Bad idea in most US climates.
- Summer: set thermostat to 85°F. Higher than that risks heat damage to electronics, art, and stored food. Higher humidity also encourages mold growth. AC running at 85°F is doing minimal work but keeping humidity in check.
- Winter: set thermostat to 55°F. Lower than that and pipes near exterior walls can freeze. Pets and plants also need a livable range.
- If you use a smart thermostat, set vacation mode with your return date so it ramps up the day you get back.
- Replace the HVAC filter before you leave if it's due. A clean filter is one less thing to worry about during the absence.
Fridge and pantry
- Eat or toss perishables that won't last the trip.
- Make sure the freezer door is fully closed.
- Tip from a former insurance adjuster: put a quarter on top of a frozen cup of water in the freezer. If you come back and the quarter is at the bottom of the cup, the freezer thawed and refroze (power outage) and the food inside isn't safe.
- Take out the trash, especially anything with food. A week of trash + a warm house = a smell you can't unsmell.
- Turn the ice maker off so it doesn't fill while the freezer is on vacation cycle.
Security basics
- Lock every door and window. Walk the house twice.
- Stop mail (USPS Hold Mail online) and any package deliveries.
- Don't post the trip on social media until you're home.
- If you have a home security system, arm it and let the monitoring company know dates.
- Leave at least one car in the driveway if you have one, or ask a neighbor to park in front occasionally.
- Lights on a timer or smart schedule. Set them to vary so it isn't obvious automation.
- Trusted neighbor or friend knows your dates and has your phone number.
If you're gone in winter
Frozen pipes are the biggest winter-vacation risk. Beyond the 55°F thermostat:
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room heat can reach the pipes.
- If forecasts call for unusually cold weather while you're gone, let a faucet drip on the coldest side of the house.
- Drain outdoor hose bibs and disconnect garden hoses if you haven't already.
- If you have a long trip in deep winter, consider draining the plumbing or having someone check on the house every few days.
See winter freeze prep checklist for homeowners.
If you're gone in summer
- Close all blinds and curtains on south and west sides to reduce solar gain.
- Remove any plants that need watering, or arrange someone to water them.
- Check that exterior hose bibs aren't dripping (leaks become indoor problems through walls).
- If you have a pool, arrange for someone to handle chemistry and skimming.
- If you have a sump pump, test it before you leave. The summer storm with no one home is the worst time to discover a failed pump.
If you have pets at home
Different rules entirely. The thermostat needs to be at a pet-livable range (typically 68 to 78°F depending on the animal and season). The pet sitter visits per the pet's needs. The water shutoff plan has to keep at least the pet's drinking water source flowing. Plan ahead.
The last 5 minutes
Walk the house once with this list in mind:
- Stove off, all burners off, oven off.
- Iron, hair tools, space heaters unplugged.
- Garage door closed (and lock the inside door from garage to house too).
- Thermostat set.
- Water shutoff done.
- Lights on timers active.
- Phone has neighbor and emergency contacts saved.
Good maintenance rhythm
- Before every trip longer than 3 days: run through the 10-minute essentials.
- Before every trip longer than 1 week: shut off the main water valve.
- Yearly: test that the main water shutoff still turns. Most fail because they sit unused.
- Yearly: confirm the smart thermostat's vacation mode works as you expect.
- Every trip: take baseline photos. They're useful if you ever need to file a claim.
- Ongoing: keep one trusted neighbor's contact info on your phone and yours on theirs.