Havasu House Button Up When Not In Use?

[pkrrvr619]

For all y'all that have a havasu home as a vacation home, what do you do to button it up when its not in use?

I've read turn off water, set thermostat to 90. Any other best practices you have?

 

[Havasu blue label]

Sticker pads for bugs and scorpions under beds and doors

 

[SJP]

I have cleaning ladies come every two weeks to clean, flush toilets etc. Maybe extreme but when we are using it a lot it helps having them scheduled.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Summer button up:
shut off water, open 1 sink faucet, shit off ice makers, if your water heater has a vacation option enable that, lock guns in safe or hide in safe place and set thermostat to 88 degrees.

Winter button up:
all of the above except., set thermostat to 40 degrees and make sure all exposed pipes are wrapped to prevent freezing.

If you have a pool make sure you have someone to tend to it.

 

[hallett21]

I have cleaning ladies come every two weeks to clean, flush toilets etc. Maybe extreme but when we are using it a lot it helps having them scheduled.

The toilets are no joke lol. It’s amazing how fast they evaporate.

 

[ChrisV]

Water off, all breakers off except fridge, close all bedroom doors. Give the boat a kiss and say, “I’ll see you later… ”

 

[rpmsrup]

Turn water heater off if you shut the water off, we leave a bowl of water out during summer in the kitchen helps keep moisture in the air

 

[DLC]

Some things to know or think about.…. Some things are long term like months

turn off the water to the house, but leave water on to landscape
if you have a pool and use an auto fill water line, You don’t want it running thru the house it can blow!
something to think about turn off the water heater at the breaker, water heater continues to maintain hot water even with out any water.

have a light on a timer to show some activity at night, you can drive around and see which houses are empty at night - They are dark, no frt porch lights etc.

sticky pads or a pest control is a great idea.

For long term - months
plug your sink drains, plastic wrap over your toilet P traps dry out and stink up the house from sewer gassing

give a neighbor a key or add a lock box somewhere for access

take a pic of electrical panel and water line shut off in case you need to walk thru a friend / neighbor for a problem like a broken irrigation line

if you have a newer home you might want to keep the temperature lower than 90

get 5 gallon buckets of water set in each room with wood furniture

 

[stephenkatsea]

For most installations, shutting of the water should be enough. But double check your RO system. Those plastic tubes often run thru the walls and attic. They have the amazing left untouched ability to suddenly become compromised and begin spraying water. Particularly in the heat of summer.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Fill zip lock bags with water and place them in the toilets(drained) and over sink drains. Helps prevent sewer gas when p-traps evap.

 

[LHC Kirby]

April to November. 3 gallon buckets with water, Kitchen, bathrooms, in front of entertainment center, in bedroom that has the original bedroom set from the 1950's that my parents had. IT'S REAL SOLID WOOD. Normally about half full - but depends on when our next trip will be.

All year - Shut off water, shut off breaker for electric water heater (No gas) shut off Ice maker, unplug water softener, adjust HVAC for the season. 83 summer, 50 winter - THANK YOU SOLAR . . . . . . Leave gallons of water in the freezer, I rotate one from freezer to refrigerator before we leave. When we lose power this will "help" keep the food from spoiling. A new idea I recently heard and will do next trip. Put a cup in the freezer, nearly full of water, when it freezes, put a quarter on the top of the ice. When you come back, if the quarter is no longer on the top - it means the freezer lost power long enough to destroy everything in it (Except my beer glasses) ;-)

Before leaving the OC, open app on phone and adjust the HVAC thermostat (wifi) for the temp I want when we get there. I have a key lock box, I have combo lock on gate. I also have camera's in and out - I get notifications all the time, cats, rabbits random person walking between houses as a short cut. A large locked mailbox.

NOTHING in the house, that is worth a damn - even our TV's are old. any thief that would break in would be extremely disappointed.

 

[pkrrvr619]

Edit to add this is for the two weeks I don’t use the place in the summer.

 

[Havasu blue label]

We do it every Sunday our Monday when we leave

 

[EarpRider]

Water off, all breakers off except fridge, close all bedroom doors. Give the boat a kiss and say, “I’ll see you later… ”

Close bedroom doors???

 

[HB2Havasu]

Sticker pads for bugs and scorpions under beds and doors

Summer button up:
shut off water, open 1 sink faucet, shit off ice makers, if your water heater has a vacation option enable that, lock guns in safe or hide in safe place and set thermostat to 88 degrees.

Winter button up:
all of the above except., set thermostat to 40 degrees and make sure all exposed pipes are wrapped to prevent freezing.

If you have a pool make sure you have someone to tend to it.

@Havasu blue label Great idea about using Sticker Pads for bugs! Going to add this to my 'Closing List - Things to do' I found a Scorpion in our pool last summer, so I know those little fockers would love to get inside the house.

@Rajobigguy Curious - why do you leave 1 sink faucet open?

 

[CoronaChris]

Summer button up:
shut off water, open 1 sink faucet, shit off ice makers, if your water heater has a vacation option enable that, lock guns in safe or hide in safe place and set thermostat to 88 degrees.

Winter button up:
all of the above except., set thermostat to 40 degrees and make sure all exposed pipes are wrapped to prevent freezing.

If you have a pool make sure you have someone to tend to it.

Note to self, never eat ice from Rajo he shits in his ice maker.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Note to self, never eat ice from Rajo he shits in his ice maker.

Damn autocorrect!!!

 

[Rajobigguy]

@Havasu blue label Great idea about using Sticker Pads for bugs! Going to add this to my 'Closing List - Things to do' I found a Scorpion in our pool last summer, so I know those little fockers would love to get inside the house.

@Rajobigguy Curious - why do you leave 1 sink faucet open?

To allow for possible water expansion.

 

[PlanB]

Water off, water heater breaker off, pad lock on the garage door, temp set to 85, close the blinds, set light timers and set the alarm.

 

[2Driver]

Had a fulltime place in Havasu and 2 places over the years in Parker.

OFF:
* water
* AC
* Water heater

* Drained swamper if we used it.
* Only things left in fridge/ freezer were bottled goods then added several gallon water jugs to take up air space.
* Padlock on garage track
* Nest cams on.

Never did the buckets of water lol, some furniture was from the 70-90’s and there was never an issue. As a matter of fact it was when humidity was introduced ( monsoon or swamper) was there an issue.

 

[zhandfull]

My list includes:
* Water off at meter
* Hot water heater breaker off
* unplug any chargers from outlets
* Make sure heat & AC off
* bucket of water in shower and kitchen sink during summer months.

Like the glue traps, might have to add that in.

 

[Jay Dub]

I will second or third the padlock on garage door tracks idea. When did that when growing up when we traveled for extended periods.

 

[MeCasa16]

I just lock the door and go home..

 

[cofooter]

In my Parker house I'd shut off the water from the meter, lock the door and go. Tried leaving the thermostat on 90 and did not see the benefit. The heat never hurt my decent furniture even during two to three months at a time during summer. One good thing about leaving the aircon off is NOTHING can live in there. YOu don't have to worry about scorpions, flys or spiders when you go back in, its like having an exterminator come by without the chemicals, haha.

 

[Big B Hova]

In my Parker house I'd shut off the water from the meter, lock the door and go. Tried leaving the thermostat on 90 and did not see the benefit. The heat never hurt my decent furniture even during two to three months at a time during summer. One good thing about leaving the aircon off is NOTHING can live in there. YOu don't have to worry about scorpions, flys or spiders when you go back in, haha.

Vinyl plank floors will buckle if you don't run AC

 

[cofooter]

Vinyl plank floors will buckle if you don't run AC

Probably, I had tile...........

 

[Big B Hova]

I shut water off, gas water heater to vacation mode, shut off ice maker, relieve water pressure at furthest faucet, lock everything up. Double check every is off. Set AC during summer to 85. Arm alarm.

My issue is if I want to rent out the place I gotta leave it all on because renters van bearly get the front door code correct, I wouldn't even try to have them start throwing water valves and fucking with the water heater

 

[cofooter]

I shut water off, gas water heater to vacation mode, shut off ice maker, relieve water pressure at furthest faucet, lock everything up. Double check every is off. Set AC during summer to 85. Arm alarm.

My issue is if I want to rent out the place I gotta leave it all on because renters van bearly get the front door code correct, I wouldn't even try to have them start throwing water valves and fucking with the water heater

I had a neighbor who knew the few valves/breakers to turn on if someone wanted to stay and he did it...........

 

[thedan]

I do all the same, except the padlock to the garage track. I have a switched outlet for my liftmaster side jack opener. After the slide locks, I cut power so there will be no malfunction of the controller. (I know a thief can manually slide the lock, but they can cut a lock too)

 

[NicPaus]

Vinyl plank floors will buckle if you don't run AC

Don't want to jinx myself. But been 4 years at over 130 degrees in summer.

But HD, Lowes and Lumber liquidators brands won't last a year without buckling and curling. Lifeproof being the worst I have seen.

 

[Big B Hova]

Don't want to jinx myself. But been 4 years at over 130 degrees in summer.

But HD, Lowes and Lumber liquidators brands won't last a year without buckling and curling. Lifeproof being the worst I have seen.

What brand LVP do you have? I have Gemcore in mine. Needles power is so cheap so I just set the AC high. My water / power / trash bill not being there the entire month is $165. With A/C , renters, and use in summer its like $265

 

[Orange Juice]

Candles will melt, and drip all over the place.

 

[NicPaus]

What brand LVP do you have? I have Gemcore in mine. Needles power is so cheap so I just set the AC high. My water / power / trash bill not being there the entire month is $165. With A/C , renters, and use in summer its like $265

Bel air. But I asked him which one to use. I think it was wpc that doesn't do well with heat. But I would have to double check with them. I know everyone of my neighbors that used HD or lowes materials went to shit within a year. Like worst I have seen. I have seen a lot of failures locally from those brands also. Big issue now is they want moisture barrier between slab and floor just Like laminate install. They actually made a waterproof 12mm laminate which they say holds up better than the vinyl. I have been only using the 8mm lately and if slab putting down 4m plastic then the vinyl.

 

[LHC Kirby]

I already posted what I do.... forgot to add I love the sticky traps. One on each side of the garage doors. Under beds in the middle towards head board.
Garage - In 22 years 3 mice, 5 lizards :-( Countless spiders crickets flies centipedes. I change them out about every year. Once they are pretty much full. The ones under the beds hardly get anything, I have only changed one in 22 years. I do use the HD type bug spray, two times a year. I put the dog and wife in the car and spray the inside... and leave.

 

[colenighthawk]

Why water heater off, asking for a friend?

 

[Ultra...Good]

oil in toilets, sinks, traps in general. not motor oil, a food grade oil, and not much needed.

thin film of oil on top of water takes much longer to evaporate.

 

[Ultra...Good]

Why water heater off, asking for a friend?

depending on time down, but if gas I turn down so burner still ignites and hopefully does not corrode too bad. elec is just shut off.

why use more energy then necessary and it is a tank full of stagnant water. keep heating that without adding fresh or even aggitating it.

 

[LHC Kirby]

Why water heater off, asking for a friend?

Since I shut off my water, if the water heater is on and a leak occurs the VERY RARE Potential of an empty heater - trying to heat air.... I think that would be bad.

 

[bk2drvr]

Don't want to jinx myself. But been 4 years at over 130 degrees in summer.

But HD, Lowes and Lumber liquidators brands won't last a year without buckling and curling. Lifeproof being the worst I have seen.

I’m on year two of the good Lifeproof stuff on concrete slab and no issue. I don’t run my AC in summer. I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t have a problem.

 

[NicPaus]

I’m on year two of the good Lifeproof stuff on concrete slab and no issue. I don’t run my AC in summer. I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t have a problem.

What thickness? I know about 6 of my friends that had it installed in Parker and they all had issues. Buddy of mine installed it. He since disappeared and unfriended me. Good thing I wasn't the one who referred him so not on the hook to fix it. It was the in stock material at home depot in havasu.

 

[RIVERBORN]

I’m w mecasa16 I lock the door, shed a tear and say see u next time house. Lol.

 

[bk2drvr]

What thickness? I know about 6 of my friends that had it installed in Parker and they all had issues. Buddy of mine installed it. He since disappeared and unfriended me. Good thing I wasn't the one who referred him so not on the hook to fix it. It was the in stock material at home depot in havasu.

I used the 7mm planks (wide ones 8.75”) with the foam backing on it. I didn’t use a moisture barrier. I believe the instructions said not to. I installed it all myself in the entire house .

I wonder if the concrete slab is a better sub floor than wood for vinyl plank? I know there are a lot of mobile homes in Parker. Maybe that’s the difference?

 

[NicPaus]

I used the 7mm planks (wide ones 8.75”) with the foam backing on it. I didn’t use a moisture barrier. I believe the instructions said not to. I installed it all myself in the entire house .

I wonder if the concrete slab is a better sub floor than wood for vinyl plank? I know there are a lot of mobile homes in Parker. Maybe that’s the difference?

Possibly. But the few failures I have seen here in the Southbay have been slabs. I mentioned it to the head guy at Discount flooring which is owned by Bel Air. He told me there has been a lot of issues with the vinyl installed over slabs with no moisture barrier. And told me to install it over 4m plastic. They are actually selling a lot more laminate again as there was so many issues with vinyl. Vinyl the sub floor has to be perfectly level. I have 2 spots in my house we floated to level it and it has contoured slightly there. Now they have a 12mm waterproof laminate that is supposed to be better if floor not dead nuts. I have not installed it yet though. Last few jobs have been 8mm Vinyl wide plank.

 

[bk2drvr]

Possibly. But the few failures I have seen here in the Southbay have been slabs. I mentioned it to the head guy at Discount flooring which is owned by Bel Air. He told me there has been a lot of issues with the vinyl installed over slabs with no moisture barrier. And told me to install it over 4m plastic. They are actually selling a lot more laminate again as there was so many issues with vinyl. Vinyl the sub floor has to be perfectly level. I have 2 spots in my house we floated to level it and it has contoured slightly there. Now they have a 12mm waterproof laminate that is supposed to be better if floor not dead nuts. I have not installed it yet though. Last few jobs have been 8mm Vinyl wide plank.

Ya I dunno. Lots of good reviews on YouTube of the Lifeproof. I did do a stellar job on prep and getting slab ultra smooth. The flooring has been durable and great.

 

[mjc]

Bel air. But I asked him which one to use. I think it was wpc that doesn't do well with heat. But I would have to double check with them. I know everyone of my neighbors that used HD or lowes materials went to shit within a year. Like worst I have seen. I have seen a lot of failures locally from those brands also. Big issue now is they want moisture barrier between slab and floor just Like laminate install. They actually made a waterproof 12mm laminate which they say holds up better than the vinyl. I have been only using the 8mm lately and if slab putting down 4m plastic then the vinyl.

I would like to know which one it was. I am looking for a high heat stable flooring.

 

[NicPaus]

I would like to know which one it was. I am looking for a high heat stable flooring.

I need to go there in the next week or so and will ask.

 

[bk2drvr]

I would like to know which one it was. I am looking for a high heat stable flooring.

The Lifeproof is rated to 105 degrees.

 

[Good Stuff]

Thermostat in the 80-85 range is what we do. Garage set to same. Higher than that doesn’t save a ton and it just makes it harder on the house to cool everything else down 20 degrees when you do show up in my opinion. Luckily we have a Nest and just drop the temp on our way out and it’s 72 when we get there. I just leave the water on because the pool autofills and the water softener cycles. The one time I shut the water off for a month my water softener nozzle clogged and I had to take the whole system apart and clean it. That could have just been something that would have happened either way though. With the house being open for airbnb I try to keep things like water shutoffs to a minimum. It just makes for more instances when someone might break something because they don’t know what they are doing for me. If you do shut the water off remember to kill the water heater breaker too. Might be an unnecessary step but I always feel better that way.

 

[PlanB]

Thermostat in the 80-85 range is what we do. Garage set to same. Higher than that doesn’t save a ton and it just makes it harder on the house to cool everything else down 20 degrees when you do show up in my opinion. Luckily we have a Nest and just drop the temp on our way out and it’s 72 when we get there. I just leave the water on because the pool autofills and the water softener cycles. The one time I shut the water off for a month my water softener nozzle clogged and I had to take the whole system apart and clean it. That could have just been something that would have happened either way though. With the house being open for airbnb I try to keep things like water shutoffs to a minimum. It just makes for more instances when someone might break something because they don’t know what they are doing for me. If you do shut the water off remember to kill the water heater breaker too. Might be an unnecessary step but I always feel better that way.

I have a water shutoff valve in my garage that only affects the interior of the house. My pool will still fill.