Closing Up Your Home
I. Speaker
A. Master Gardener, formerly with US Forest Service
B. Remarks were for people who leave for 5-6 months
II. Outside Preparation
A. Allow a week to get work done.
B. Walk around your property and take notes of problem areas.
C. Automatic Drip Irrigation Systems
1. Don’t asume your automatic watering system is working
a) Put system on manual and check each emitter
b) Check for leaks in water lines
c) 1 gal/hr emitter doesn’t work too well in Summer
(1) Use 3 gal/hr emitter
(2) Doesn’t plug up so often
(3) Cut back on time if too much water
(4) Put emitter on small rock to disperse water
(a) Won’t make hole in groundß
d) Leave extra emitters with house sitter and demonstrate use
2. Change emitters often; pull all and bleed lines often
3. black emitters with wing cheapest and easiest to remove
D. Deep Water all plants by soaking thoroughly
1. Good advice throughout year
2. We have high ph soil-salts are flushed downward by deep soaking
E. Prune all plants to create "at home" appearance
1. Pyrcanthia and Oleander can grow 4’ in Summer
F. Screen any heat sensitive plants
G. Check for aphids and treat any found
1. high pressure water or mild pesticide
H. Leave yard in good shape. Remove any weeds.
I. Fireplace
1. Close flu and cover opening on roof
a) 12 inches of rain can cause big problems-giant rain gauge!
J. Spraying yard with pesticide doesn’t have much effect
1. Use Diazonon granules - not being made anymore
2. Malathion is OK, too
III. Inside Preparation
A. Inside plants
1. Have someone water or get rid of them
2. Repot in plastic to avoid water loss
B. Hot Water Heater
1. Turn off-Elec. Heater (not gas) will calcify heating units
2. drain water and sediment from bottom valve frequently
C. Disconnect everything in house from TV to all electrical plug-ins
D. Refrigerator
1. If on, you run risk of lightening damaging it
2. Turn off, clean and prop door open to prevent smells
E. Pilot Lights-Turn all off
F. Turn off main gas line
G. Telephone-You decide. There is a connect/disconnect charge.
H. Dishwasher
1. TIP-put vinegar inside of dishwasher-offsets alkalinity
2. If you have someone come in, run dishwasher occasionally
a) Keeps seals moist
I. Water Softener
1. Several types. Demand/Timed. Check with manufacturer or installer.
J. Electricity and Water
1. Leave on. Need electricity for drip irrigation.
a) Unless your drip irrigation comes off before main water shutoff
(1) Then, shut off all water and drip irrigation will still work
2. Turn off water to every spigot.
3. Icemaker-shut off water line to ice maker
4. No way to turn off shower and bathtub
K. Washer
1. Shut off water-handles behind/above washer.
L. Air Conditioning/Swamp Cooler
1. No harm to house if not cooled-turn off
2. House will exceed 100 degrees, but OK
a) Don’t leave candles out!
M. Overflow Drains in sink, bath tub, etc.
1. Use masking tape to close off completely
a) Duct tape leaves residue-tough to clean
N. Toilets
1. There are cockroaches in the sewer lines
a) Borax or Boric Acid is good to use for roaches
2. Turn off water valves to toilets
3. Flush toilet and add 1/4 cup of AUTO antifreeze (not RV)
a) acts as a toxic poison-may turn dark, but OK and cleans up
4. Cover toilet with plastic wrap tightly and seal with masking tape
IV. TIPS
A. Pull lid of water meter and check small black diamond
1. should not rotate with all water off (Turns VERY slowly)
2. If it turns, you have a leak in your water line(s) somewhere
B. Canned Foods
1. Vegetables especially have life shortened by heat
2. take with you or give away
C. Dry Food like pasta, OK to leave
D. Auto timed lighting
1. Good idea for security. Different lights, different times.
E. Curtains
1. Don’t shut all. Only ones needed to prevent sun damage. At home look.
F. Last Thing-spray inside your home before you go
1. between baseboards and floor, under sinks, everywhere.
a) Need a pesticide that leaves a residue-usually "whittish dust"
b) Diazanon granules outside or Suspend or Demon inside-"Fog" spray
(1) Best is not made now-Ficom-W or Ficom-Plus
(a) Call Donna’s Home Service 625-7341-she has some
c) Will leave residue which will kill while you are gone.
d) Vaccum up when return
G. ID valuable items with SS#
H. Car-If you leave one here in garage, usually no problems.
1. Disconnect one of the cables to battery
a) Clock won’t run down battery
b) If battery is new and good, car will start on your return
2. If carport, pack rat problems.
a) Light on at night under car
b) poison bait
c) live trap
V. Stop Newspaper and Mail delivery
A. Miscellaneous tips from audience
1. Bleach in toilet-tried and no problems
2. Salad oil in dishwasher??
3. Pack rats like chewed Juicy Fruit gum
A. put in nest-they eat it and it it destroys innards (Yuck!!)