# Planning Your Summer Vacation? Pack Your Bags, Then Prep Your House > You have planned your vacation for months, made reservations, mapped out a route and looked forward to getting away for some much-needed relaxation. Do a little planning for your home, and you can mak... You have planned your vacation for months, made reservations, mapped out a route and looked forward to getting away for some much-needed relaxation. Do a little planning for your home, and you can make those relaxing days even more enjoyable. **Security first** Thieves and burglars love vacation time -- your vacation time. They look for clues that the home is empty and strike when they have the opportunity. A home security system is a great way to prevent coming home to a surprise. For those who don't have one, here are a few tips to confuse the burglars: - Cancel newspaper subscriptions for the time you'll be away. Have a neighbor get your mail daily. - Have a neighbor or a service come to mow while you're on vacation. A newly mowed lawn indicates someone is at home. - Place a few timers on lamps in the home. Set them to come on at night for an hour or so at staggered times, giving the home a lived-in look. **Cut your energy costs** Before you start out, there are some things you can do in your home to save money while you're away: - Turn down the water heater thermostat. Put a storage water heater on its lowest setting or, if it has one, use the vacation setting. That will reduce the costs of your third largest energy user. - Televisions, stereos and other gadgets can still use power while their off. Unplug them and reduce your electrical usage while you're away. This will also prevent damage from storms while you're gone. - Set your [programmable thermostat](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/rodenhiser-blog/programmable-thermostat-benefits-go-way-beyond-temperature-control.html) to hold at 80 degrees or so. Program it to bring the temperature back down an hour or two before you return and your home won't be hot and stuffy. Plan a little, and you'll enjoy time away a lot more. If the heating and cooling experts at [Rodenhiser](http://rodenhiser.com/call-rodenhiser.html) can be of help with your home comfort, please contact us today. We're always ready to answer your questions. ***Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about* *preparing your HVAC equipment for your vacation **and other HVAC topics, download our free [Home Comfort Solutions Guide](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/download-the-home-comfort-solutions-guide.html).***** ***Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning* *serves the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts.* *[Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today](http://rodenhiser.com/)!*** ## Navigation - [Rodenhiser Home Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/) - [Rodenhiser Plumbing Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/plumber-framingham.html) - [Rodenhiser Heating Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/furnace-framingham.html) - [Rodenhiser Cooling Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/air-conditioning-framingham.html) - [Rodenhiser Electrical Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/framingham-electricians.html) - [Rodenhiser Home Services: Book Online](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/call-rodenhiser/book-online.html) - [Rodenhiser Remodeling Services](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/remodels/bathroom-remodeling-framingham.html) - [Rodenhiser Home Services: Reviews](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/rodenhiser-heating.html) ## Company information - Rodenhiser Home Services - [https://bc.rodenhiser.com](https://bc.rodenhiser.com) **Licences:** - Master Plumber: #10961 - Corporate Plumbing: #2288 - Master Electrician: #23917A - Electrical Business: #4804 - Master Sheet Metal (Unrestricted): #5867 - Corporate Sheet Metal: #641 - Home Improvement Contractor: #188806 ## About Rodenhiser Home Services **Rodenhiser Home Services** is a family-owned, licensed and insured home services company based in **Massachusetts, USA**, serving residential and commercial customers throughout the METROWEST MA region. Established in 1928, the company has over 95 years of experience providing plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, and home remodeling services. Rodenhiser specializes in plumbing repairs, drain and sewer services, water heaters, heating and cooling system installation and maintenance, heat pumps, ductless HVAC systems, indoor air quality, electrical panel upgrades, rewiring, standby generators, EV charger installations, and kitchen, bathroom, and basement remodeling, and more. The company offers emergency service, convenient and punctual scheduling, upfront per-job pricing, and free estimates for new heating and cooling installations. All work is backed by written warranties and a satisfaction guarantee. Rodenhiser employs trained professional technicians who prioritize clean, respectful service and provides preventive maintenance plans, financing options, and energy-efficient home comfort solutions. Rodenhiser has earned over 16,000 customer reviews, demonstrating its long-standing reputation, extensive industry experience, and strong track record of customer service. **Nice People…Great Service** ## Page information - [Canonical URL: https://bc.rodenhiser.com/rodenhiser-blog/planning-your-summer-vacation-pack-your-bags-then-prep-your-house.html](https://bc.rodenhiser.com/rodenhiser-blog/planning-your-summer-vacation-pack-your-bags-then-prep-your-house.html)