What to Check at Home Before You Leave for a Trip

A shut window can still leak during a storm, and a dishwasher supply hose stays pressurized when the machine is off. Before a trip, focus on problems that could get worse while no one is home: water leaks, spoiled food, missed deliveries and unsecured doors or windows. Start early enough to deal with anything you find, rather than doing the whole check with a suitcase in hand.

Start with the details that determine the plan

The length of your trip matters, but so do the season, your building and who can get inside. A weekend away in mild weather takes less preparation than several weeks during a freeze. An apartment may have shared heating and building staff; a detached house may also have an outdoor tap, basement pump or garden irrigation.

Note your return date, scheduled deliveries, plants or pets needing care, and equipment that must keep running. Put jobs that need advance notice—arranging a visitor, scheduling a mail hold or dealing with a faulty lock—on a separate list from departure-day checks. If someone will check the property, agree on when they will visit, whether they should go inside and how they will reach you if something is wrong. “Keep an eye on things” leaves too much open to interpretation.

Reduce the risk of water damage

Look under sinks, around toilets, behind the washing machine and near the water heater for drips, dampness or staining. Make sure taps are fully closed and neither the dishwasher nor the washing machine is set to run after you leave. Fix a slow leak before departure; closing the cabinet door over a wet pipe will not stop it.

If your home has an accessible main water shutoff and no appliance or system needs a continuous supply, turning it off may limit damage from a plumbing failure. Identify the correct valve first and check that it operates without forcing it. Some heating systems and irrigation arrangements need water, and a managed property may have rules about what you can shut off. If freezing is possible, follow the requirements for your heating and plumbing system; shutting off the main supply is not a substitute for freeze protection.

For a longer absence, you might also close the washing machine’s supply valves if they are accessible and in good condition. If a valve is stuck, leaking or unfamiliar, arrange help rather than trying to repair it on departure morning.

Set heating, cooling and power deliberately

Adjust the thermostat for an empty home, but do not switch off climate control without considering the conditions. In cold weather, keep enough heat on to protect pipes; the right setting depends on insulation, pipe locations and local weather. In hot or humid weather, some cooling or dehumidification may help protect the interior. Check the forecast, then make sure a programmed schedule will not override your away setting.

Unplug devices that need not run, especially countertop appliances and chargers. Keep essential equipment connected: the refrigerator, security equipment, a sump pump and any climate controls you are relying on. If you switch off circuits at the panel, label and verify them carefully. Cutting power to a refrigerator or pump could cause the problem you were trying to avoid.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as appropriate for your home, and replace weak batteries before the trip. If you rely on alerts, check that notifications reach you and that someone nearby could respond. An alert helps only if you have a way to act on it.

Clear food, waste and likely sources of odor

Check the refrigerator for food that will not still be safe and usable when you return. Eat it, freeze it, give it away or discard it. Take out rubbish and recycling, including what is in small bathroom or bedroom bins. If the dishwasher holds dirty dishes, run it and then let the interior dry as the manufacturer recommends. Wipe up spills and clear the sink drain.

If you plan to empty and switch off a refrigerator for an extended absence, clean and dry it first, then leave the doors ajar so moisture does not stay trapped. Otherwise, keep it powered and avoid filling it with food that would spoil during a power interruption. The question is simply what will be sitting there until you return.

Check laundry and damp towels as well. A wet load forgotten in the washer or a soaked bath mat on the floor can make for an unpleasant return to an otherwise tidy home.

Make the exterior look maintained without advertising your absence

Lock doors and windows, including less-used entrances, garage access and ground-floor windows. Check each one by hand instead of relying on memory. Close and latch accessible windows even if the forecast is clear; the weather may change. Secure sheds and gates where relevant, and bring in loose outdoor items that could blow into a window or block a path.

Arrange for mail and parcels to be held or collected if they would otherwise pile up, and pause recurring deliveries where possible. For a longer trip, arrange any lawn, snow or garden care needed to keep the property safe and accessible. Do not leave a key under a mat or in another obvious hiding place. Give a spare directly to someone you trust, or use an access method you can manage securely.

Lighting can help a visitor move safely after dark. If you use timers, test them before leaving and keep the setup simple enough that lights will not stay on unnecessarily all day. Avoid posting the dates of an empty home publicly while you are away.

Set up the person who may need to help

A trusted neighbor, friend or property manager needs more than a key. Give them your travel contact details, an alternate contact, the dates you will be away and clear permission for the tasks you have agreed on. If you expect them to use the main water shutoff or electrical panel, show them where it is. Mention anything unusual, such as a temperamental gate or a room that must stay heated. If an alarm is active, explain how to enter without setting it off.

Be specific about visits: “Check inside on Tuesday and Friday, look for leaks under the kitchen sink, and text me afterward” is easier to follow than “stop by sometime.” If plants need watering, identify which ones and show the visitor how to check the soil rather than asking them to water every pot equally. Arrange pet care separately, and confirm the caregiver has supplies, access and emergency contacts.

For trips that call for broader contingency planning, a household emergency kit you can maintain may help a visitor find basic supplies during an outage. Tell them where it is; do not expect them to search your cupboards in an emergency.

Use the final day for checks, not major repairs

The day before

• Confirm the mail hold, deliveries, pet care and property visits.
• Deal with perishable food, rubbish and wet laundry.
• Charge or replace batteries in equipment you will rely on, and test any planned lighting schedule.
• Save the address and contact details a helper would need; make sure they have their own copy.

Just before you leave

1. Walk through each room once. Check taps, toilets, windows and any appliance that could still be running.
2. Set the thermostat and verify that essential equipment still has power.
3. Check exterior doors, garage access and gates. Look for parcels or deliveries left outside.
4. Set the alarm if you use one, then confirm the door has latched behind you.

Keep a short departure list where you will see it on a rushed travel day. Make its last line the task you are most likely to forget—perhaps “close the upstairs window” or “leave the porch key with Sam”—and check it off only after you have done it.