How To Save Energy When You’re On Vacation

If you’re lucky enough to be headed to a beautiful beach somewhere or to visit family, you likely have a lot on your mind.  Whether you plan to be away for a few days, a week or an extended period of time, there are lots of tasks that will keep you occupied.

Planning your travel itinerary, travel arrangements and packing are all important tasks, but make sure you take these steps to prepare your home for your absence.  Not only will your home be prepared, you will save energy and enjoy cost savings while you’re away!

Turn Down the Thermostat

Never turn your heat completely off when you go on vacation.  Instead, turn the temperature down to 16°C to avoid frozen pipes and/or mildew issues.

Unplug Appliances

Unplug appliances, especially those that use a clock.  Appliances will use energy if they’re plugged in, regardless of whether they are in use. Get into the habit of unplugging unnecessary appliances on a regular basis – this will help reduce the “phantom” power leakage. (Learn more about energy leaks.)

Turn Off the Lights

In the past, it was sometimes recommended to leave lights on in your house to indicate to potential burglars that someone is home. Instead of wasting energy this way, arrange for a house sitter to visit your home periodically, and at that time, turn lights on to indicate someone is home.  You can also invest in an automatic timer that will turn your lights on and off. In addition, leave curtains how you would usually keep them, whether open or closed, and make sure someone picks up your mail and/or newspapers on a regular basis. 

Shut Off Your Water Main

If you plan to be away for longer than 48 hours, consider turning off your water main.  This will prevent any floods in the event that a water pipe breaks.  After you turn off the valve, make sure to turn off your water heater. Refer to your owners manual for instructions on how to turn off your water heater.   

Arrange for Snow Removal

Allowing snow to accumulate while you’re away is a huge indication that no one is home.  Arrange to have someone clear your driveway, sidewalks and entrance while you’re gone.  Remember to keep the path to your propane tank clear and indicate its location with a flag. This is especially important if you are away for long periods of time and have arranged for automatic delivery. If you do not indicate the location of your tank and ensure a clear pathway, it can create a dangerous situation that may result in delayed delivery. Learn more about getting your propane tank ready for delivery.

Keep Your Tank Full

If you plan to be away from your home or cottage for an extended period of time, ensure that your propane tank is adequately filled and set-up for automatic delivery. This will save you the trip to your cottage to make arrangements for filling.  Budget Propane offers automatic delivery with a state of the art forecasting system or unique tank monitoring that indicates when your tanks is getting low.  

If you would like more information on switching to propane, contact us for a free quote.

Budget Propane Ontario supplies bulk propane to residential, commercial, and construction sites in central Ontario. Call us to discuss your needs and to learn about the benefits of using propane. 1 888 405.7777