Heading away for the Christmas break? While this can be a very exciting time we also need to think about the safety of your home and possessions while you are away.

Here are a few things to make sure you return home with all your belongings still in place.

• Ensure that you have switched off the gas and have electric appliances unplugged with the switches turned off at the wall.

• Burglars will often look for signs like boots and shoes left by the front door to see who lives in a house. Even when you are away, leave a few pairs of shoes by the door, including man sized boots

• Check carefully that all your windows and doors are well secured before you leave your home

• Tell a trusted neighbor that you’ll be away. See if they can check on your home and take your mail and packages inside your home, or even park a car in your driveway to make it look like someone is still home

• Don’t leave valuable items in places, where they can be seen through a window. 

There are many appliances that we use in our homes – also many that we use daily. The high end areas are usually in the kitchen, and laundry. Appliance such as ovens & stove, fridge, dishwasher etc.

You might be surprised to know how much each one of your electrical appliances costs to run. Being aware of which everyday household appliances have higher running costs is a good way to avoid higher energy bills. Check out the link below for a guide on house hold appliances and their power usage.

If you’re shopping for a new whiteware appliance, TV, fridge or heat pump, you’ll see an Energy Rating label prominently displayed on the products.

The label shows a simple star rating – the more stars, the more energy-efficient the appliance. The label also features an annual energy consumption (kWh per year), calculated from average expected use.