BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

Turn water heater to "Vacation" or lowest setting. Turn off AC/heat or adjust the thermostat to protect plants, etc. Turn water off at outside connection (to prevent flooding should a pipe break while you're gone). When you return, turn on the water slowly and check for problems. Appliances, such as TVs and cable converter boxes, should be unplugged because they can draw or "leak" as much as 40 watts per hour even when they're off. Turn icemaker off (lift wire) to prevent flooding should it break while you're away. Lower the temperature of waterbed heaters at least ten degrees. Stop your newspaper. You may be able to donate it to a school.