As much as we love our permanent residents here on the Gulf Coast of Florida – including our own families and co-workers – we know that not everyone spends the whole year here. And that’s okay. Not everyone can handle a full year of semi-tropical paradise.

But if you’re a first-time snowbird, the children of retirees taking over their parent’s home, or just haven’t done it in a while, you might want some tips on properly “Summer-izing” your Florida home or condo.

You can’t protect against everything. Tropical storms and hurricanes are a challenge even for those of us who stay. But the last thing you want to do is jet back down to the Sunshine state and find something spoiled, something moldy, something infested or something that the daily rains have done unseen damage to while you were barbequing in Ohio or Wisconsin.

It doesn’t matter if you’re leaving at the end of March, April, or May, you’ll want to plan now to make the move easier by having peace of mind about your seasonal abode.

Oh, and these tips are helpful and easily adapted if you’re just planning a long summer road trip with the family.

Three Weeks Prior to Leaving

Make an appointment to have the air conditioning system serviced. An air-conditioning professional should calibrate the humidistat, clean the blower wheel, coil and condensate pan and pipe, check the thermostat, operation of motors and temperature drop across the cooling coil. They should also inspect the wiring and adjust the tension on the belts. If needed, they can add the appropriate refrigerant.

While it may seem irresponsible to run the AC while you’re not home, it’s actually a good idea. Set the thermostat at 84 degrees. That way, it recycles off and on whenever the home reaches that temperature. Otherwise, indoor humidity will be greater than 55-60%, which can lead to growth of spores and bacteria. You can also invest in a remote thermostat and humidity monitor you can track with an app on your phone.

Be sure to change or wash the AC filter, even if it hasn’t been a full three months since you’ve changed it. In addition to built-up dirt, the heat and humidity of our Florida summers can cause mildew and mold growth that may spread throughout the house.

If you have a landline, call the telephone company to temporarily suspend service. Review your homeowners’ insurance policy and update it if necessary. Remember, most homeowners’ insurance does not automatically cover hurricane or termite damage. When a storm is coming, it’s too late by law to add the necessary riders.

Arrange for landscaping maintenance and either install shutters or find a trusted friend or relative who can put them up, as well as check on the home in your absence. Remember, you’ll be gone for a while and you don’t want anyone taking advantage of your empty home.

Two Weeks Prior to Leaving

If you haven’t already, invest in timers for lamps and radios. You can also rely on an Alexa or Google Home device – but remember, they don’t work unless the Internet is connected. Either way, you want to set a schedule so it looks like your home is inhabited still. If you don’t have them, this might be a great time to add surge protectors as well.

Arrange to forward or hold mail and cancel any newspapers or magazines you may be subscribed to so they don’t pile up.

Now is the time to begin cleaning as well. This is very similar to spring cleaning. You’ll want to leave your home clean and dry to ensure it has the best chance of getting through the summer without any issues to come home to.

Clean and leave a light coating of wax on surfaces of wood furniture. Thoroughly vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. Clean any spots or stains before you head out.

One Week Prior to Leaving

Clean the refrigerator and freezer. Unopened cans and jars of food are fine stored on shelves. Any baking supplies such as flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, as well as rice and coffee need to be stored in containers that can be fully sealed. Any cereal, crackers, or pastas you don’t eat before leaving should be discarded to avoid household pests.

Give away or toss open jars or bottles of salad dressings, condiments, and other perishable items. Replacing these items is less expensive than running a nearly empty fridge for several months. Do not keep herbs such as parsley, oregano, and basil. Spices such as cinnamon, curry, and nutmeg will be fine, just make sure they are closed.

Use a solution of one tablespoon of baking soda in one quart of water to clean the interiors of the fridge and cabinets inside and out. It will neutralize food soils and prevent odors. Completely dry everything. If your unit has one, remove and clean the defrost pan at the bottom of your refrigerator.

Remove interior plants and exterior plants in pots and containers. Now’s a good time to make sure the pool is set to go – the water resupply is working, and the chlorine is at the proper levels. You’ll likely have to shock it when you get back regardless, but taking care of it now will lead to fewer issues later. You can bring in lanai furniture now or on the final day.

You’ll want to clean all your bathroom and kitchen surfaces with a light bleach or vinegar mix to make sure everything is clean. Don’t forget the inside of the microwave and under the toaster.

On the Day You Leave

It’s last call for any food in the fridge. Finish it or pack it to go. Make sure you remember to take the trash, recycling, and especially any compost out to the curb. Once they’re empty, unplug the refrigerator and freezer and leave the doors slightly ajar. Make sure the doors cannot accidentally close.

Run 1 dozen ice cubes and 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the garbage disposal to clean the blades. Empty the dishwasher. Shut off ceiling fans and unplug any appliances or electronics you don’t have on timers. For smoke alarms, automatic watering systems, thermostats, and security systems, replace the batteries and unplug your garage door opener.

Leave only clean clothes in closets. Allow space between garments to permit circulation of air. If you’d like, leave cedar balls or hang Damp Rid (not the bucket that collects water) in the closets. Do not leave clothes on the floor. Open all the interior doors so air can circulate properly throughout the house. Pull curtains and blinds closed or mostly closed. This will keep the heat and curious eyes out.

Run water in all faucets for 10 minutes to flush the system, then add one capful of olive oil in each drain trap to seal in moisture. Turn off the water. Unplug the hot water heater or turn off the breaker – just make sure the pool pump is still connected.

Lock your doors and secure the exterior. Head north knowing that your summer paradise home will be safe, protected, and ready for your return!

One Last Thing

Unfortunately, there is one thing you can’t do on your own to protect your seasonal residence while you’re away. Even the best preparations can’t cover every eventuality. Florida is home to a variety of insects, creeping, crawling, and burrowing. If termites target your home, it won’t matter who’s keeping an eye on it.

But that’s where we can help. Our exclusive Term Assure 365 covers your home year-round for any signs or signals of a termite infestation. It combines our world class termite prevention program with our Go Green Perimeter Plus solution – basically creating a mostly invisible barrier to all insects who might come calling.

We’ll seal any access points to your home, set termite monitoring stations and then check everything every time we come out to treat your home – even if you’re not there. It’s the safest, greenest pest control you can find – and it’s backed by a $1 million damage repair warranty. To get the best protection for your home, just give us a call!

A special thanks to the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension for providing the framework for this article.