A short absence is not closing up for the season
Shutting a house for five months calls for a long list. Going away for four days calls for five things. Confusing the two is why people do nothing at all: the long list looks like too much work for a weekend.
These are the gestures that change something over a short absence, and only those.
Water, even for four days
Turning off the main stopcock is still the most worthwhile gesture. A joint that starts weeping on a Friday, with the house empty, has the whole weekend to work. It costs ten seconds on the way out and ten on the way back.
If you would rather not close the main valve because something is connected, at least close the washing machine and dishwasher taps. Hoses left under pressure are the most common cause of short-absence floods.
The fridge and what gets forgotten inside
Nothing to do for four days, except one thing: do not leave anything simmering or an appliance on a long cycle thinking you will be back before it ends. It is obvious and it is exactly what happens when you leave in a hurry.
And check the freezer door, the one that gets left ajar without anybody noticing until the smell on your return.
The terrace and anything that can fly
In October and November the gusts give no warning. An open parasol, a light chair or a clothes airer on a fourth-floor terrace can end up in the street. Putting them away takes two minutes.
While you are there, look at the terrace drain. If it rains hard on Saturday and it is blocked, the water rises and finds the first weak seal.
Make the house not look empty, without overdoing it
A timer switching a lamp on for a few hours at dusk works better than a permanent outdoor light. And asking a neighbour to clear the letterbox costs one message.
What makes no difference: announcing the absence on social media before you are back. It is the only point on this list that has nothing to do with plumbing.
