You’ve booked the flights, packed the bags, and counted down the days. But before you lock that front door, there’s one more thing you shouldn’t skip. A few hours of smart prep can save you from coming back to a flooded basement, a sky-high utility bill, or worse.
Why Hiring a Handyman Before Your Trip Is Worth It
Think of your home like a car. You wouldn’t drive it across the country without checking the oil, the tires, and the brakes first. Your house needs the same attention before you leave it unattended for days or weeks.
A lot can go wrong when nobody’s home. A slow drip under the sink becomes a soaked cabinet. An uncleaned dryer vent becomes a fire risk. A loose fence gate becomes an open invitation for unwanted guests.
That’s where a professional handyman earns their value. Instead of spending your last day before vacation crawling under sinks and climbing ladders, you can hand off the list to someone who knows exactly what to look for. They’ll catch small issues before they turn into expensive emergencies, and you’ll leave with peace of mind instead of a nagging feeling that you forgot something.
Whether you’re heading out for two weeks or two months, getting a handyman walk-through before you go is one of the smartest investments you can make as a homeowner.
Utility Shut-Offs and Settings: What to Address Before You Leave
Before you head out, your utilities need attention. Checking this off your home checklist before vacation takes maybe an hour, but it can prevent thousands of dollars in damage and wasted energy costs.
Here’s a quick reference home checklist to keep in mind as you go:
| Utility | Recommended Action | Why It Matters |
| Main Water Supply | Shut off completely | Prevents potential flooding from burst pipes or appliance failures |
| Water Heater | Switch to vacation/pilot mode | Saves energy, reduces standby heat loss |
| Non-Essential Appliances | Unplug from wall | Eliminates phantom draw |
| Thermostat | Set to 15–18°C (cool) or 26–28°C (warm season) | Protects pipes and finishes while cutting energy use |
| Gas Supply | Shut off at meter (if leaving long-term) | Eliminates risk of gas leaks while unoccupied |
| Circuit Breakers | Turn off non-essential circuits | Reduces electrical fire risk |
The most critical item on this list is the main water supply. Find the shutoff valve near your water meter or where the main line enters your home, and turn it clockwise until it stops. If a pipe bursts or a hose fitting gives out while you’re gone, that one step is the only thing standing between you and a flooded house.
From there, work through the rest of the table: switch your water heater to vacation mode to cut standby energy use, unplug non-essential appliances to eliminate phantom draw and fire risk, and set your thermostat to a safe away temperature rather than turning it off entirely. Extreme indoor temps can warp floors, crack wood, and stress your pipes just as much as a harsh winter outside.
How to Prevent Water Damage While Away
Water damage is one of the leading causes of home insurance claims in Canada. The frustrating part? Most of it is preventable. A round of good plumbing maintenance before you leave is one of the highest-value things you can do for your home.
Check for Leaks Under Sinks and Around Toilets
Get down and look. Open the cabinet under your kitchen and bathroom sinks and check for moisture, staining, or active drips. Then look at the base of each toilet for signs of seeping water. Even a small leak left alone for two weeks can rot out a subfloor.
If you notice your toilet tank is running or you suspect a leak, it’s worth getting that leaking toilet tank looked at before you go.
Turn Off Appliances That Use Water
Your dishwasher and washing machine connect to water supply lines that can fail without warning. Even if the hoses look fine, there’s no reason to leave them pressurized while the house is empty. Turn off the individual shut-off valves behind or under these appliances, or at minimum, make sure both are fully powered off.
Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
A clogged gutter during a heavy rain is like a backed-up drain. The water has to go somewhere, and usually that somewhere is your walls or foundation. Before leaving, check that gutters are clear and downspouts are directing water away from your home. If you notice damaged shingles or flashing while up there, get it patched before you leave. This gutter cleaning guide from CAA is a solid reference when considering what steps to follow.
For more on keeping your pipes and fixtures in good shape long-term, this guide on plumbing maintenance is worth a read.
Getting Your Outdoor Space Ready Before You Leave
Your yard and exterior don’t take care of themselves while you’re gone. Storm damage, overgrown plants, unsecured furniture, and faulty fencing can all become bigger problems the longer they go unaddressed. Spending an hour or two on outdoor prep before you leave protects your property and keeps things tidy when you return.
Store or Secure Outdoor Furniture and Fixtures: Patio chairs, umbrellas, planters, and decorative fixtures can become projectiles in a strong storm. Move lighter items into the garage or shed, and use furniture straps or covers for heavier pieces you can’t easily move.
Pause or Adjust Irrigation and Sprinkler Systems: If you have an automatic sprinkler system, program it to a reduced schedule or shut it off entirely if rain is expected. Check your outdoor hose bibs too, a running hose or faulty faucet can waste thousands of litres and damage your foundation. If you’ve ever spotted outdoor faucet leaks around your hose connections, have those fixed before you leave.
Inspect Fencing for Loose or Damaged Sections: Walk your fence line and look for loose boards, leaning posts, or gates that don’t latch properly. A broken gate is an open invitation for animals, trespassers, and liability if someone enters your property and gets hurt. If you find problems, get fence repair done before you leave, not when you’re back and scrambling.
Kitchen Prep: Plumbing, Appliances, and Gas Checks
The kitchen is one of the most utility-dense rooms in the house when doing a home prep vacation walkthrough. Between gas connections, water supply lines, and heat-generating appliances, there are more potential hazards concentrated in one room than almost anywhere else. Taking 20–30 minutes to go through this section carefully is time very well spent.
Shut Off the Gas Supply (If Applicable)
If you’re leaving for more than a week, consider shutting off the gas supply at the meter (especially if you have older appliances). Gas leaks can go undetected in an empty home for a dangerously long time. If you’re unsure how to do this safely, ask your handyman or call your gas utility provider.
Inspect and Clean Appliances Before Leaving
Empty and wipe down the fridge if you’re leaving for more than two weeks. Defrost the freezer if it tends to build up ice. Before turning off the water supply, run the dishwasher empty on a hot cycle to clear out any leftover food particles that could mold. Clean the stovetop and oven to remove grease that could become a fire hazard.
Check Under-Sink Plumbing for Drips or Leaks
Kitchen sink supply and drain lines take a lot of daily use and are prone to slow drips at the fittings. Clear everything out from under the sink and look carefully. Even a damp pipe fitting is worth tightening or replacing. Not sure what you’re looking for? This overview of common plumbing issues lays out the warning signs clearly.
How to Protect Your Home From Fire Hazards
A house fire while you’re away is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Without anyone present to catch early warning signs (burning smell, tripped breaker, or smoking vent) small issues can escalate fast. A few targeted checks before you leave can dramatically reduce the risk and give you far better peace of mind on the road.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Press the test button on every smoke and CO detector in your home. If the alarm is weak or doesn’t sound, immediately replace the battery or replace the unit if it’s more than 7–10 years old. Ontario’s CO rules outline where CO alarms are required in homes with fuel-burning appliances, so make sure you’re covered before you go.
Check Your Electrical Panel for Warning Signs
Open your breaker panel and look for anything unusual like tripped breakers, scorch marks, or a burning smell. These are signs of an overloaded circuit or a failing breaker, don’t ignore them. If something doesn’t look right, have an electrician check it out before your trip. Leaving a compromised electrical panel unattended is a risk not worth taking.
Inspect and Clear Dryer Vents
Dryer lint buildup in the exhaust vent is one of the top causes of residential fires. Pull your dryer away from the wall, disconnect the vent hose, and vacuum it out. Then check the exterior vent flap to make sure it opens freely. If you haven’t cleaned it in over a year, this is worth scheduling before you leave.
Keeping Your HVAC in Good Shape
You don’t want to come home to a house that smells stale or, worse, one that’s been cycling hot or cold air through a dirty system for weeks. If your system is due for a service or you’re not sure it’s running properly, it’s worth getting it looked at before you go. Book a free estimate with the OddJob team and get it sorted before your departure date.
Replace Air Filters Before You Go
A clogged air filter makes your HVAC system work harder, reduces air quality, and can strain the unit enough to cause a breakdown. Swapping the filter before you leave is cheap, takes five minutes, and means your system is running clean the entire time you’re away.
Inspect Vents and Ductwork for Blockages
Walk through each room and check that supply and return vents are clear, not blocked by furniture, drapes, or debris. Restricted airflow puts stress on your system and leads to uneven temperatures that can encourage moisture and mold in certain spots.
Check for Any Odd Smells or System Warnings
If your HVAC system smells musty, burned, or off in any way before you leave, don’t ignore it. These are early warning signs of mold growth in ductwork, overheating components, or failing parts. A quick inspection from an HVAC technician is much cheaper than the damage a breakdown can cause over a two-week vacation.
Your Pre-Vacation Walkthrough: A Room-by-Room Checklist
Once you’ve tackled the big-ticket items above, do a final room-by-room sweep of your home the day before you leave. Here’s what to check:
Entryways & Exterior Doors
- ✅ Deadbolts engage fully and don’t stick
- ✅ Door frames show no gaps or rot
- ✅ Porch lights set to turn on with a timer or motion sensor
Living Room
- ✅ TVs, gaming consoles, and media equipment unplugged
- ✅ Window locks engaged and no gaps in sealing
- ✅ No candles or open-flame items left out
Kitchen
- ✅ Stove and oven off and clean
- ✅ Fridge cleaned out (or at appropriate temp for short trips)
- ✅ Dishwasher emptied and water supply valve turned off
Bathrooms
- ✅ No running toilets or dripping faucets
- ✅ Exhaust fans clear of dust
- ✅ Under-sink cabinets dry and no signs of leaks
Bedrooms
- ✅ Windows closed and latched
- ✅ Portable heaters unplugged
- ✅ Closet doors closed (helps regulate humidity)
Basement / Utility Room
- ✅ Main water shut-off confirmed off
- ✅ Water heater on vacation mode
- ✅ Sump pump tested and working (if applicable)
Pay particular attention to windows, doors, and any spots where the exterior meets the interior. Gaps in seals aren’t just energy issues, they can let in water, insects, and even small animals over an extended trip. While you’re at it, check basement window wells, foundation edges, and roof overhangs for any cracks or pest entry points, and seal them with steel wool and caulk as a quick fix if you find any. Finally, if you’re using light timers as a security measure, make sure every connected fixture actually works. Walk through and flip each switch, and swap out any burnt-out bulbs before you leave.
Building a Reusable Home Prep Checklist
The real goal here isn’t just to prepare for this one vacation, it’s to build a system you can reuse every time you travel. Think of it as your home’s pre-flight checklist. It takes effort to build the first time, but every trip after that becomes faster, less stressful, and more thorough.
Organize Tasks by Category (Utilities, Plumbing, Outdoors, Safety)
Break your master list into four buckets: utilities, plumbing, outdoor, and safety. This makes it easy to delegate, your handyman handles the plumbing and outdoor tasks, your electrician handles the panel and detectors, and you handle the interior walk-through. For a strong starting point on the safety side, the RCMP’s home safety tips cover security habits that every homeowner should build into their routine before travel.
Assign Time Estimates to Each Task
Most utility checks take 5–10 minutes. Gutter cleaning might take 45 minutes. An appliance inspection could be 20 minutes. Map it all out so you know whether you need a two-hour DIY session or a full handyman visit.
Save and Print a Master Checklist
Don’t rely on memory or digital notes that disappear. Print a one-page master checklist and attach it to your fridge or inside a kitchen cabinet. Each time you prep for a trip, pull it out, check things off, and date the completed sheet. Over time, you’ll know exactly what needs attention and what can be skipped based on trip length or season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I set on my thermostat when on vacation?
In winter, keep it at least 15–16°C to protect pipes from freezing; in summer, set the AC between 26–28°C to prevent mold without running the system unnecessarily. Turning it off entirely is rarely the right call.
What appliances should I unplug before leaving for vacation?
Focus on anything that draws standby power or poses a fire risk when unattended: TVs, gaming consoles, desktop computers, coffee makers, toasters, microwaves, and phone chargers. Leave the fridge and security system on.
How do I prepare my HVAC system before going on vacation?
Replace the air filter, clear any blocked vents, and set the thermostat to a safe away temperature before you leave. If the system has been making unusual sounds or smells, have a technician check it first.
What outdoor tasks should a handyman handle before I go on vacation?
A handyman can clean gutters, secure outdoor furniture, inspect the roof, check fencing and gates, and shut down irrigation systems (all the tasks that require ladders, tools, or a trained eye). These are easy to overlook but important to get right before you leave.
How far in advance should I book a handyman before my vacation?
Book at least one to two weeks out so there’s time to complete any repairs that come up and order any parts needed. Last-minute bookings risk limited availability and not enough time to address problems properly.
Making the time to properly prepare your home for vacation is just as important as packing your bags or arranging a pet sitter. The hour or two you invest before you leave can be the difference between a relaxing trip and coming home to a stressful, expensive mess. Use this checklist every time you travel, and consider building a relationship with a trusted local handyman who knows your home well. It makes the whole process faster and far less stressful.
Ready to leave home without the worry? Get a free estimate from the OddJob team and check everything off your list before you go: https://oddjob.ca/estimate/
