The Snowbird’s Guide to Opening and Closing a Florida Home

Leaving Florida for the summer takes more preparation than simply locking the doors and turning off the lights. A vacant home can sit through months of heat, humidity, heavy rain, and year-round pest activity, which makes it important to prepare the property before you go.

UF/IFAS recommends taking steps to keep a seasonal home both clean and dry while it is vacant, since food residue, moisture, mildew, and pests can all become problems during an extended absence.

What Should You Do Before Leaving Your Florida Home for the Summer?

Before leaving for an extended period, focus on four things:

• Remove food and trash
• Reduce pest entry points
• Control indoor moisture and humidity
• Arrange for someone to periodically check the property

Taking care of these areas can make it less likely that you return to pest activity, moisture damage, or other problems that developed while no one was there to catch them early.

Clean the Home and Remove Food Sources

A thorough cleaning is one of the most important steps before leaving a Florida home vacant. Food particles, grease, trash, and even residue on surfaces can attract pests such as ants and cockroaches while you are away.

Before leaving:

• Remove perishable food
• Empty trash and recycling
• Clean countertops and appliances
• Vacuum crumbs from floors and cabinets
• Store remaining pantry items in sealed containers
• Remove pet food and treats
• Clean dirty dishes and sinks

Pay special attention to kitchens, pantries, and areas beneath appliances where food debris can easily be overlooked.

Check for Pest Entry Points

Before a home sits vacant for several months, inspect the exterior for openings that could allow rodents or other pests inside.

Look around:

• Doors and windows
• Garage doors
• Rooflines and soffits
• Attic vents
• Plumbing and utility penetrations
• Exterior vents

If you have already noticed droppings, scratching noises, gnaw marks, or other signs of rodents, address the problem before leaving rather than hoping it resolves on its own.

Hulett’s rodent control services include inspection, trapping, monitoring, and exclusion designed to identify and seal accessible entry points around the home.

Should You Turn Off the Air Conditioning When You Leave Florida?

In most cases, a Florida home should not simply be left without humidity control for the entire summer.

Florida’s heat and humidity can create conditions that encourage mildew and moisture-related damage in an unoccupied home. UF/IFAS recommends preparing air-conditioning equipment to continue helping manage indoor conditions while the property is vacant.

Before you leave:

• Replace or clean HVAC filters
• Make sure the system is operating properly
• Check condensate drains
• Confirm thermostat or humidistat settings
• Follow your HVAC professional’s recommendations for an unoccupied home

The ideal temperature or humidity setting can vary by home and equipment, so it is better to follow system-specific guidance than rely on one universal setting.

Should Pest Control Continue While You Are Away?

For many South Florida homeowners, it makes sense to keep recurring pest and termite protection active while the home is vacant.

Pests do not stop being active because nobody is home. In fact, an infestation may have more time to develop before it is noticed when the property sits empty for several months.

If you already have recurring service, check whether appointments and inspections can continue while you are away.

Inspect the Attic Before You Leave

The attic is worth checking before an extended absence because rodent activity, damaged insulation, and moisture problems can remain hidden above the living space.

Look for:

• Rodent droppings
• Disturbed insulation
• Gnaw marks
• Unusual odors
• Water stains
• Damp insulation
• Visible gaps around attic entry points

If insulation has already been damaged or contaminated by pests, leaving the issue unresolved for several months may allow conditions to worsen.

Hulett offers attic and insulation services that include inspections, insulation removal, sanitation, air sealing, and pest-resistant insulation options.

Check the Exterior for Water and Pest Conditions

Take a final walk around the property before leaving and look for conditions that could attract pests or create moisture problems.

Pay attention to:

• Standing water
• Clogged gutters
• Leaking outdoor faucets
• Damaged screens
• Vegetation touching the structure
• Wood or debris stored against the home
• Openings around the roofline
• Signs of termite activity

If landscaping will continue growing while you are gone, arrange for routine maintenance so shrubs and tree limbs do not become overgrown against the house.

Have Someone Check the Home While You Are Away

Even a well-prepared home should not ideally go completely unchecked for months.

UF/IFAS recommends arranging for a trusted person to periodically inspect a seasonal home, particularly because Florida properties can experience storms, leaks, moisture problems, or other unexpected issues while vacant.

A basic check-in can include looking for:

• Water leaks
• HVAC problems
• Pest activity
• Storm damage
• Power outages
• Unusual odors
• Indoor humidity problems

If your home will be vacant during hurricane season, make sure you also have a plan for storm preparation and post-storm inspections.

Florida Summer Departure Checklist

Before locking up your home for the season, make sure you have:

• Removed food, trash, and pet food
• Cleaned kitchens and other food-preparation areas
• Checked doors, vents, and exterior gaps for pest entry points
• Addressed any existing rodent or insect activity
• Prepared the HVAC system for extended operation
• Checked the attic for pests, moisture, or insulation damage
• Removed standing water around the property
• Arranged landscaping and exterior maintenance
• Continued pest and termite service when appropriate
• Asked someone to periodically inspect the home

A little preparation before you leave can make a big difference when you return. Keeping the home clean, dry, monitored, and protected from pests helps reduce the chance that a small problem goes unnoticed all summer.