When it comes to making sure your home is weatherproofed during a vacation, you need to factor in several important issues; how susceptible is your home to weather damage, how long will you be gone, and how paranoid are you.

Recent storms in our area prove that even periods of the year that are considered mild can deliver a nasty punch. When you are gone, weatherproofing your home means keeping bad weather out, and making sure nothing left in your home can create havoc during your absence.

Keep an eye on the local weather, no matter where you are

No matter where your travels take you, pay attention to the weather at home. Don’t let the sun, sea and surf trick you into forgetting that things back home can’t go wrong. Sure, you can’t change the weather from 1000 miles away, but if you see a tornado warning, make sure to call friends or relatives after the storm to check for damage. A broken window can let in 100’s of gallons of rain water during your vacation, and a simple hole like that could easily be patched by someone you know.

Mobile apps make it easier than ever to check the weather, and many weather services can send out an email warning when bad things are about to happen.

Pay attention to the obvious

If you’ve got little things in the house that have been damaged for a long time, you’ll find that the week before your trip is a good time to fix them. That small leak in the attic, or the dripping toilet could all turn into major issues if left unattended for a week. Use the downtime before vacation to fix all those small things.

Do a walk-through around all the entrances and make sure their weather strips are intact – if necessary, replace or repair any sealing products that look old or worn.

Don’t forget to check your garage door for damage, and do a walkaround your home to check for trees with visible damage. If necessary, contact your local council or a tree company to have dead limbs removed before they fall on top of your roof.

It may not be the most enjoyable chore, but right before your trip is a good time to clean out your gutters. Clogged gutters can overflow and water can back up into your home. And remember, vacation or no vacation – always be careful when using a ladder. Gutter cleaning may be one thing you outsource, spending your vacation time in a cast is a sure way to spoil your fun.

Before leaving on a long(er) trip, be sure to remove foods that can spoil from your fridge. If you lose power, or a breaker trips, that five pounds of meat

If nobody can watch your home, use technology to watch it yourself

If the scheduling of your vacation clashes with everyone you know that you’d have asked to keep an eye on your home, consider investing in technology products to help monitor things from afar. A basic home surveillance video system like the Logitech Alert system is available for around $300. This system lets you monitor your home using a PC or mobile phone, and can alert you when motion is detected.

Similar remote systems are even available for your climate control. For $250, the Bayweb thermostat will control and monitor the temperature in your home, and can even alert you when water leaks are detected. Both the Logitech Alert and the Bayweb can be installed by most DIY enthusiasts.

Test all your protection before leaving!

If you rely on a sump pump to keep your basement dry, make sure you have a battery backup system, and inform relatives how to check the status of the pump. The last thing you want is to end up with a flood because nobody thought about checking the pump before leaving. The same precautions apply to your alarm system if you have one, as well as any other devices you have in place to protect your home.

If you are leaving on a long trip, turning off gas and water line is definitely a wise idea; as long as you are 100% sure you won’t need the gas for your furnace in a cold climate. If you do turn off the gas, be sure to turn off any pilot lights, including the one on your hot water heater. Do not turn off the gas until you are absolutely sure you know exactly how to reignite everything on your return.

Know who to call, and remind others

If you have kids, you’ll remember the kind of list you’d give your babysitter – a similar list is important for when you are on vacation. Don’t just let people know where you are staying, also be sure they know the number of your insurance agent or company, numbers of relatives and names and numbers of your utility company. If you have complex home control systems, be sure to train people in how to use them.

Really paranoid? Find a house sitter

If the thought of someone checking up on your house once a week doesn’t ease your worries, consider offering it to someone for the duration of your trip. You’ll obviously need someone you can trust, but knowing someone is there most of the time will definitely let you sleep easier at night. Most importantly – do whatever it takes to make sure you have fun on your trip.