4 Tips to Keeping Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel

FTC Compliant Review Policy:  The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Do you go out of town for the holidays, or do you stay home? If you travel, I bet you are like me and are a bit concerned with the safety of your house while you are gone.  I know I worry and I can not be the only one!!!  Lucky for us all, I was contacted by Ooma—a leading internet home communications hub—with the opportunity to deliver 4 tips for keeping your home safe and secure when you're on the road this holiday. Before you lock your doors and hop in the car, make sure you follow these steps to ensure your home is safe.
 
TIP #1: DON'T TURN YOUR THERMOSTAT OFF
Before leaving for an extended trip, it's important to lock in a safe temperature in your central heating system. If you live somewhere with cold winters, don't turn your thermostat off! To prevent your pipes from freezing, set the temperature lower than usual—ideally between 40 and 55 Fahrenheit. Live in a warmer climate? Leave the thermostat at about 69 Fahrenheit. Alternatively, you can completely avoid worry by controlling your thermostat remotely. Ooma detects when your thermostat is on "Away" mode and will automatically forward any home calls to your mobile device.
 
TIP #2: SHUT OFF THE GAS AND UNPLUG ALL APPLIANCES
Always turn off gas-powered devices such as stoves, ovens, and fireplaces, and unplug all appliances. This can prevent any accidental fires and potentially hazardous carbon monoxide leaks into your home, as well as save energy. This is especially important if you have pets at home who can't defend themselves against unforeseen hazards. For an added layer of protection, be in the know—Ooma can warn you via text and direct you to call 911 when your Nest Protect smoke/carbon monoxide detector has been triggered.
 
TIP #3: DON'T KEEP YOUR TRAVEL A SECRET
When leaving home for several days, tell someone you trust where you'll be in case of emergency, such as a fire, burglary, or carbon monoxide leak. Friends staying in town or a thoughtful neighbor could be options. They can keep an eye out for suspicious activity and notify you of any out-of-the-ordinary occurrences. Ooma allows you to be notified immediately when 911 is dialed and you can call them or call police to investigate.
 
TIP #4: LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO MONITOR YOUR HOME
Thanks to technology, our homes are getting smarter and smarter. Did you know there are countless apps that can connect to systems in our homes—from central temperature to security systems, light bulbs to the Amazon Echo? The Ooma Telo seamlessly interacts with your favorite smart home products and services to make your home safer and more convenient than ever before. Whether it be increased levels of carbon monoxide or a home break-in, Ooma can be the first to alert you of any danger. 
  
You can learn more about Ooma's home monitoring system and buy an Ooma Telo at http://www.ooma.com. 
 
Has an emergency ever happened at your home while you were away? Tell me about it in the comments below! 

Comments

  1. Colette SDecember 21, 2016 at 9:37 PM

    These are very good tips!

    ReplyDelete
  2. mail4roseyDecember 23, 2016 at 11:21 AM

    All good, but if you have a fish keep it somewhat warm. Learned that lesson the hard way. RIP Beta.

    ReplyDelete
  3. An Apel a DayJanuary 3, 2017 at 3:05 PM

    These are great tips. Travis tells 2 neighbors. My family (sisters and parents) always know we're out of town as well.

    ReplyDelete
  4. An Apel a DayJanuary 5, 2017 at 3:28 PM

    I've only fell at home before. I didn't go to the hospital that day, but soon after that. Travis almost burnt the house down. I wasn't at home during that time. Thankfully he had a fire extinguisher to put it out. He was trying to burn a wax mold out in our oven. Nope!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment!

Popular posts from this blog

PowerMat - Review and Giveaway

Image
Please let me go ahead and just say... I think/KNOW that the PowerMat will be one of the HOTTEST items this year! Have you heard of this? I mean, seriously! This is Awesome and I am using that since I can not think of any other way to explain it... (Are there really words that would explain something this cool?!) Okay, let me just cut to the heart of it... The PowerMat is just that... A MAT full of POWER! It is a little bit longer than an average book... Thinner than a cell phone. It looks like a skateboard (in my opinion.) and it charges 3 different technological gadgets at once! Do you know what that means? You NO LONGER need 3 cords, no more messy tangles... Just one cord to plug the mat in and you are done!!!! I was sent the PowerMat for review and I am so very impressed! The PowerMat can charge 3 different items... Marc and I have blackberries... (They can now BOTH charge on here AT THE SAME TIME!) We also have several IPods ... The docking station for the IPod can charge my
Read more

Fire Fly Toothbrushes - #giveaway

Image
Is it a hassle to get your younger kids to brush their teeth? Broxton loves it and asks throughout the day if he can go and brush his... Now that he has a new toothbrush!!! We were sent a couple toothbrushes from Fire Fly Toothbrushes and I just love the concept! With Fire Fly, they light up! You just press the button and they light up for a solid minute. What we do here is a little system. First, Broxton brushes his teeth for the first minute. (just a teeny bit of toothpaste) Then, I brush the next minute (once again, minimal toothpaste.) Finally, he gets to brush them a final minute (no toothpaste.) The system is working and his teeth are clean! During the day, when he wants to brush them.. He can, but with no toothpaste. He really just likes the way it lights up. Doesn't hurt that the toothbrush is a hot wheels car!!! He also has one to leave at my parents house.. It is a snoopy one and lights up blue! Talk about a cool item to show the grandparents!!! Not only c
Read more

Momma Must Have - Exergen Temporal Thermometer- Review and Giveaway

Image
As we all know, it can sometimes be a bit difficult to take the temperature of a sick child. Hey, some adults are known to be big babies... The longer they have to wait, the fussier they become. Well, with the Exergen Temporal Scanner ... Wait is something that can be eliminated! Why do I say that? Just because the wait is merely 2 seconds! During that time, you will already be finished a gift giveaway blog hop, exergen temporal scanner, mom must have, R nd moving on to something else. I really like the ease of the Exergen Thermometer. It has a soft tip on it that you gently swipe across the forehead of your "patient." There are two things that make this stand out compared to others that I have used. One - If you are sweating, you can place it behind your ear to get your temperature. Two - There is a light on both sides to show you that it is on. I like that, as I sometimes worry if it is on or not... You know how I can be! First, remove the protective cap... Turn it on...
Read more