You’re Leaving Arizona for Summer. Here’s How to Not Come Home to a Disaster.

It’s April. You’re done with Arizona.

The heat is coming. The monsoons are coming.

You’re outta here.

But before you leave, you need to prepare your manufactured home for months of brutal heat, monsoons, and dust storms.

If you don’t? You could come home to mold, dead plants, bug infestations, electrical damage, burst pipes, and worse.

Here’s how to prepare your home properly.

1-2 WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Stop your mail and utilities. Contact your phone, internet, and satellite TV providers. Tell them you’re leaving.

Notify your HOA about your departure and return dates.

Secure your valuables. Don’t leave jewelry or important documents in your house.

Empty the refrigerator. Consume leftovers or throw them away. Coordinate with trash pickup.

Trim trees and bushes. Overgrown vegetation is a fire hazard in summer heat.

Empty standing water. Fountains, bird baths, kiddie pools—empty them all. Standing water = mosquito breeding grounds.

Protect your hot tub. Turn off the heating system but leave the filter on. Do NOT drain it—heat damage will occur.

1-2 DAYS BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Replace batteries in fire alarms, security systems, and thermostats.

Remove outdoor furniture. Plastic melts. Wood warps. Fabric deteriorates. Get it inside.

Seal all food in containers with tight lids. Bugs will find unsealed food.

Decide about your refrigerator:

• • Turn it off completely and leave doors open, OR
  • Leave it on and fill it with water bottles (empty fridges use more energy)

Disconnect your car battery if leaving a vehicle in the garage. Cover it to protect from dust.

Remove propane tanks and flammable chemicals from your garage.

Set your irrigation timer for summer heat. Your yard needs water or everything dies.

Hire a yard care service if you don’t want to come home to a jungle.

Arrange pool service if you have a pool.

Schedule exterior pest control before you leave.

Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor with your contact information.

BEFORE YOU LOCK UP

Unplug everything. Lightning from monsoon storms destroys electrical equipment.

Leave buckets of water in each room for moisture.

Decide about A/C:

• • Turn it off to save energy, OR
  • Leave it on at 90-95°F if you have items needing climate control

Turn off natural gas at the main valve.

Flush toilets and faucets, then turn off water at the main valve. Drain remaining water from outlets.

Turn off all ceiling fans and other fans.

Open all interior doors for air circulation.

Close all blinds and drapes to block heat.

Open your washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Put vegetable oil in the dishwasher and garbage disposal to protect seals from heat damage.

Unplug the garage door opener.

Turn off the water heater.

Ask a neighbor to check on your house every couple of days—remove packages, check for damage, especially after monsoon storms.

The Bottom Line

Yes, this is a lot of work.

But it’s way less work than dealing with mold, dead plants, bug infestations, electrical damage, and burst pipes when you return.

Follow this checklist. Prepare your home. Leave it secure.

Then head north and enjoy cooler weather without worrying.

Your future self will thank you.