How to Prepare Your Home Before a Vacation: A Room-by-Room Checklist

Before a vacation, protect your home in four areas: water, heating and power, security, and insurance. That means shutting off or monitoring water, setting the thermostat safely, making the house look lived-in and arranging for someone to check on it. This checklist works for a week at the cottage in July or a month away in February.

Step 1: Prevent water damage

A small leak can become a flooded basement if no one is home to notice it. Start here.

1. Turn off the main water valve if you’ll be gone more than a few days and no one needs water.
2. If you leave the water on, turn off supply valves to the washing machine and toilets.
3. Test your sump pump by pouring water into the pit. Make sure it switches on and drains.
4. Check that gutters and downspouts are clear and pointing away from the house.
5. Consider water leak sensors that send alerts to your phone.

Not sure how your sump pump works? Our guide explains what a sump pump does and how to test it.

Step 2: Set heating, cooling and power

Summer trips

Raise the air conditioning setting or turn it off if the house can stay reasonably warm without damage. Leaving some air movement helps prevent humidity buildup in the basement. Unplug electronics, small appliances and chargers to cut fire risk and phantom power use.

Winter trips

Keep the furnace running at a safe, steady temperature so pipes don’t freeze. Have the furnace serviced before a long winter trip. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.

A smart thermostat lets you check the temperature from anywhere and get alerts if it drops.

Step 3: Make your home look lived-in

An empty-looking house invites trouble. A bungalow’s ground-level windows and doors make this step even more important.

• Put indoor lights on timers in different rooms.
• Hold your mail or ask a neighbour to collect it and any parcels.
• Arrange lawn mowing in summer and snow clearing in winter.
• Leave curtains in their normal daytime position.
• Don’t post trip details or photos on social media until you’re back.

Step 4: Lock down security

Walk around the home and check every entry point. In a bungalow, that includes every window, since they’re all at ground level.

1. Lock all doors and windows, including basement windows.
2. Put a bar or dowel in sliding patio door tracks.
3. Lock the garage and unplug the opener if you won’t need it.
4. Move ladders and tools indoors.
5. Test cameras, video doorbells and your alarm system.
6. Tell your alarm company who has a key and how to reach you.

For a deeper look, see our bungalow home security checklist.

Step 5: Check your insurance

Many home insurance policies have conditions about how long a home can sit empty and whether someone must check on it. If you don’t follow them, a claim could be affected.

Before a longer trip, call your insurance broker and ask:

• How long can my home be unoccupied under my policy?
• Does someone need to check the house, and how often?
• Do I need to keep the heat on or turn off the water?
• Is water damage from a burst pipe covered while I’m away?

Step 6: Final room-by-room sweep

Area	What to do
Kitchen	Empty the fridge of perishables, run the dishwasher, take out garbage
Bathrooms	Turn off toilet supply valves, check for drips
Laundry	Turn off washer valves, clean the dryer lint trap
Basement	Test the sump pump, check for moisture, lock windows
Bedrooms	Lock windows, unplug electronics, set a lamp timer
Outside	Secure furniture, lock the shed, arrange lawn or snow care

Who should check on your home?

Ask a trusted neighbour, friend or family member to check the house regularly. Give them a key, your contact information and a short list of what to look at: the furnace, the basement floor, the sump pump and the mailbox.

For longer trips, some homeowners hire a professional house-checking service. Make sure the visits match what your insurance requires.

Frequently asked questions

Should I turn off my water heater when I go on vacation?

Many water heaters have a vacation setting that lowers energy use. Check your model’s manual, and if you turn off the water main, ask a plumber whether the heater needs special steps.

What temperature should I leave my house at in winter?

Keep the heat on at a steady level that keeps the whole home, including the basement and exterior walls, safely above freezing. Your insurance broker may have specific requirements.

Is it safe to leave my sump pump on while away?

Yes, it should stay on. Test it before you go, and consider a battery backup in case the power goes out during a storm.

Leave with peace of mind

A little preparation protects your home and lets you enjoy your trip. Focus on water, heat, security and insurance, and have someone you trust check in.

Want a year-round plan as well? Our bungalow maintenance checklist covers every season.