How to Leave Your Arizona Home for the Summer

Leaving your Arizona home for the summer works best when the air conditioning stays on at a raised setting, drains keep their water seals, and someone can learn about a leak quickly. Below are three common snowbird tips, checked against Arizona home experts and a sewer utility, with an honest note on each.

Every spring, owners in the 55+ communities I work in trade tips for closing up a house. Some of those tips hold up well when you check them. Others are reasonable ideas that nobody official has written down. This page is not a full checklist; that is what my closing-up guide is for. It is a closer look at the advice I hear most, and what published sources actually say about it. I am not a plumber or HVAC technician, so treat anything here as a starting point for a conversation with a licensed pro.

Tip 1: Thermostat set high, not off

What I hear: raise the thermostat for the summer, but leave the system able to run.

What the sources say: Rosie Romero of Rosie on the House, writing for KTAR, says this is not the time to turn the air conditioner off. Raise the thermostat, but not higher than the mid-80s. Penguin Air, an Arizona HVAC company, suggests 85 degrees in the warmer months for energy efficiency.

My take: this tip holds up. The exact number is where people disagree, and it should. Insulation, shade, equipment age, what is stored in the house and what your insurance policy expects can all change the right setting. Ask your HVAC company what they recommend for your system while the house sits empty, and have it serviced before you go.

Tip 2: Buckets of water around the house

What I hear: leave open buckets or bowls of water so the closed-up house does not get bone dry.

What the sources say: Rosie on the House suggests leaving a five-gallon bucket of water somewhere in the house to maintain humidity, for the benefit of plumbing P-traps, furniture and artwork. The same article suggests putting a water jug or two in the refrigerator so it runs more efficiently.

My take: this one has a named Arizona source behind it, so it is more than neighborhood folklore. Note that the source says one bucket, not one in every room. If you are worried about open water in a particular spot, ask your home watch provider how they want it handled.

Tip 3: Plastic wrap over the toilets

What I hear: stretch plastic wrap tightly across each toilet bowl before leaving, to slow evaporation and keep sewer odors out.

What the sources say: the problem behind this tip is real. The South Davis Sewer District explains that when a drain sits unused, the water in its trap can slowly evaporate, and once the trap dries out, sewer gases can escape into the home. It lists vacant homes and hot, dry weather as causes. Its suggested fixes are running water through drains, refilling seldom-used ones, and adding a little mineral oil on top of the trap water to slow evaporation. A House Digest article describes plastic wrap over the bowl as a way to keep the water from evaporating, but it does not cite a plumber, and the utility guidance I found does not mention covering bowls at all.

My take: the goal is right; the method is mostly word of mouth. Penguin Air also suggests pouring half a cup of chlorine bleach into the toilet bowl, not the tank, before you leave, to limit stain-causing bacteria. Ask your plumber which approach fits your fixtures, and remember that sinks, showers and floor drains have traps too, not just toilets.

Expert tips that go beyond my checklist

My closing-up guide already covers the basics. These are the specific items from the two Arizona sources that owners tend to ask about after they know the basics:

• Turn off ceiling fans. Rosie notes that fans do not cool a room; they only make people feel cooler.
• Add leak sensors that alert your phone. Rosie recommends battery-powered leak detectors, including models that send an alert to your smartphone while you are away.
• Know what a whole-house shutoff does. Rosie notes that if you install and use a whole-house shutoff valve, you should turn down the water heater and disconnect the water softener. Penguin Air calls shutting off the main water supply the most efficient way to prevent leaks.
• Schedule a plumber early. Penguin Air suggests an inspection a few weeks before departure so there is time to fix anything found.
• Unplug what you will not use. Penguin Air advises unplugging appliances and electronics that will sit unused, which can also protect them from outages and surges. Keep anything your security system or leak sensors depend on powered.
• Clear out leftover food. Penguin Air recommends it to avoid insects and animals getting in while you are away.
• Keep the house looking normal. Rosie suggests keeping blinds, shutters and shades in their usual positions and stopping mail, subscriptions and package deliveries a few days before you leave.

A tip list is not eyes on the house

None of these steps tells you when a supply line lets go in July. That is the job of a leak sensor and a person who checks the house on a schedule. My home watch service guide covers what to ask providers. If you are thinking about selling while you are away, tell me before you leave so cooling for showings, access and repairs are planned on purpose rather than by phone from another state.

If you are still deciding where to land in Arizona, my 55+ homes guide walks through the communities I cover.

Questions buyers ask

Should I turn the AC off for the summer?

The Arizona sources I checked say no. Rosie on the House says to raise the thermostat but not above the mid-80s, and Penguin Air suggests 85. Confirm the setting for your system with your HVAC company.

Does a bucket of water actually help?

Rosie on the House recommends a five-gallon bucket of water to help maintain humidity for P-traps, furniture and artwork. For drain traps specifically, also follow your plumber's advice.

Is plastic wrap on toilets worth doing?

Dry traps are a real issue in empty homes, according to sewer utility guidance. Plastic wrap is a common homeowner method, but I did not find a utility or plumber source that recommends it, so ask your plumber.

Where is the full closing-up checklist?

Start with my closing up your Arizona home for summer guide, then use this page for the specific tips.

Can Terry help if I decide to sell while I am away?

Yes. Call 602-483-4665 before you leave so we can plan access, cooling and listing prep.