There’s no way to prevent every possible disaster from striking while you’re away from home, but you can increase your peace of mind significantly with these five safeguards:

Check the smoke alarms. While cooking is the leading cause of home fires, other causes can occur at times when no one is home, things like electrical malfunctions or problems with heating equipment.

Install leak sensors. Another example of smart home technology, these disc-shaped, Wi-Fi-connected devices can be placed anywhere there’s a risk of leaks, such as a flood-prone basement or under the washing machine or water heater. In the event of a leak, you’ll receive an alert through the apps.

Protect water pipes. If you’re going away on an extended trip, take steps to keep pipes from freezing.

Put lights on timers. This is one of the oldest tricks, but it’s still a great way to deter would-be thieves.

Beef up your home security. In recent years, the market for affordable DIY security systems has exploded, making it possible to add protection without big upfront costs and monthly monitoring fees.