Test your vacation system.

Water on the floor sensors can also be integrated into some controllers. I have two for my Apex. If one of them trips the skimmer shuts off (among other things).

guess depends how handy your Dad but always nice to have a number for him to call if something he's unfamiliar with happens (example a pump goes u/s).

I was gone for 2 months and mine survived with basically a newb doing what you're thinking for your father, just feeding and cleaning skimmer.

I just got back from 3 weeks vacation, tank sitter bailed after 1 week, make sure you have a back-up plan, I didn't :(

Colin