Suitcases packed? Check!
Travel plans confirmed? Check!
Family excited about going on vacation? Check and check!
Home prepped and ready for its own vacay? Ummm…
Planning one last getaway before school starts in August? Perhaps it’s a quick weekend camping trip or maybe a road trip to visit the grandparents. It’s time to give your home a summer vacay as well. These easy tips will give your home some well-deserved time off:
- Check for dripping faucets. Before locking your front door, make one last check of your home’s indoor faucets and outside spigots to make sure they’re turned off correctly and completely. Did you know that a fast-dripping faucet can waste up to 11 gallons of water a day? In arid LA, we need to conserve every drop. Plus, this will save you money on your water bill!
- Turn off the air conditioning while you’re away. There’s no need to cool an empty house.
- Place lights on timers instead of keeping them on 24/7 while you’re gone. This will create the illusion of someone being home and save money on your electrical bill.
- Slay your home’s power vampires while you’re away. A “power vampire” is an electrical device that uses power even when they’re turned off (think: coffee makers or video game consoles). Unplug them completely when you’re on vacation, and you’ll stop them from sucking up power.
There’s no reason why your home can’t enjoy its own vacation while you’re away. And, you’ll enjoy your trip even more knowing that you’re conserving water and energy and saving money on your utility bills!
Any questions about getting your home ready for its summer vacay? Have eco-tips or tricks that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you at lastormwater@lacity.org.
