College students area always interested in saving money, right?

So, now that we’ve told you how to keep unwanted visitors out of your home, apartment or residence hall room while you’re away on winter break (click the link if you missed that one); let’s go over a few ways to also keep it safe from damage and a few ways to save some ca$h.

Set the Thermostat. The last thing you want to do is turn off your heater completely. Then you could risk broken pipes and flooding should it freeze inside your home. Leave the heat on, but set is as low as it will let you go, usually about 45-50'F.

Unplug Everything. Everything plugged into the wall uses some electricity whether it is turned on or not. Unplug televisions, phone chargers, DVD players, computers, gaming systems, lamps, alarm clocks, etc. Just don’t unplug the refrigerator!

Empty the Fridge. Speaking of the refrigerator, take the time to eat up or throw out anything that will expire or spoil while you’re away. Nothing says “welcome home” like some new furry friends in the fridge.

No Hot Showers. Your hot water heater works hard all day long making sure your have a nice hot shower at your fingertips. If you’re not home for a couple weeks, that’s a lot of work and energy heating up water for nothing. Now, some apartments and residence halls don’t allow you access to your water heater. However, if you can get to it, first look for a “Vacation” setting that allows you to turn it down without completely turning it off. If it’s an electric water heater, there’s no harm in turning it completely off at the unit or the circuit breaker. However, be careful not to completely turn off a gas water heater because it may extinguish the pilot light, which requires a professional to relight when you return.

Turn Off Unnecessary Lights and Fans. While you may want to keep a light or two on to deter criminals, don’t waste energy fanning an empty room.

Bring in Any Plants. If you haven’t done so already, bring in or cover any outdoor plants that are sensitive to cold, frost or freezing temperatures.

Protect Pipes. While leaving the thermostat at 45-50 should keep everything inside safe, be sure to cover any outdoor pipes or spigots to prevent freezing.

When in doubt… consult your landlord or housing management for advice before you leave.