NAPSI)—Having a relaxing summer getaway can, to some extent, be defined by how well you prepare your home before you leave town. To make sure your vacation isn’t dampened by emergencies at home, prioritize these six quick fixes that can easily save you money, energy and hassle to help ensure you come back to the same comfortable, clean house that you left.
- Reach out to a friend: Before you depart, leave a key with someone you trust so he or she can check up on your house, water your plants or bring in the mail while you’re gone. If no one is available, put your mail on hold at the post office and temporarily stop subscriptions so material doesn’t pile up on the porch, proclaiming your absence.
- Seamlessly save on utilities: The average American household spends about $2,500 on energy a year, yet approximately 30 percent of it is wasted, according to the experts at the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. When your family is out of the house for a few days, there’s no reason to keep your air conditioner running at full speed. For every degree a thermostat is raised, homeowners save 2 to 3 percent on their electricity bill. Many smart thermostats even have the capability to detect when you’re away and adjust your home’s temperature accordingly. No matter the thermostat brand or manufacturer, the LG Dry Contact will communicate with your LG duct-free air conditioning system, so you can control simple thermostat functions to further increase energy savings.
- Refresh your fridge: If you’ll be gone for more than a few days, seize this opportunity to clean out your refrigerator. New, smart refrigerators allow you to set them in “vacation mode” to reduce energy consumption while you’re away. You’ll save on energy and come back to a nice clean fridge, ready for all that produce you bought at the farm stand on the way home. About a week before leaving for vacation, stop going on major grocery shopping trips; just purchase the essentials, such as milk and bread. Ask yourself, “Will I really eat this before the trip and will this still be good once we get back?”
- Vanquish the electricity vampires: Many electronic devices draw power even after they’re turned off. ENERGY STAR–certified TVs and monitors have very low standby modes, so they’re okay. Still, the average American household has dozens of these energy vampires. Unplugging mobile phone chargers and other devices before you go can save as much as 10 percent of your household energy use.
- Secure your home against intruders: According to statistics from the FBI, 61 percent of burglars use force to gain entry into a home. Before you leave, make sure all window and door locks are working properly, and notify your security company that you’ll be away. Remove any spare house keys you may have hidden around your property as well, so as not to risk entry by a stranger.
- Setting up a cool re-entry: Adjust your air conditioning to the ideal temperature before you get home using your smartphone with a connected device such as the LG Smart AC Module and app, which lets you control your LG duct-free air conditioner remotely. The app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS mobile devices, lets you adjust temperature, fan speed and airflow for cool, optimal comfort upon your return.
Learn More
For further facts and tips, go to www.lg-dfs.com or www.lghvac.com.
