Most people enjoy going away on vacation during the summer, before you pack that bag and leave for the airport, consider your home plumbing. Many homeowners forget their plumbing, and on their return, they may have a nasty surprise waiting. If you don’t prepare your plumbing for a vacation, there could be a water leak; you may waste a lot of water and energy unnecessarily. Let’s take a look at six ways that you can prepare your
home plumbing for your vacation.
- Turn Off Your Water Supply
Many potential water related disasters can be averted simply by turning off the main water valve. If a plumbing problem occurs while your away on vacation the water pipes will continue to leak due to a steady supply of water. This could eventually lead to a flood in your home unless someone notices and intervenes to stop it. If your plumbing system doesn’t need a steady supply of water while your away for an aquarium or another purpose, turn it off.
- Open Every Faucet
Now that your water supply is turned off, you need to open up every faucet in your home. This will allow any water remaining in your plumbing pipes to drain out, and if there is a plumbing break while you’re away, no water can leak out. It’s a good idea to put a reminder somewhere prominent to close every faucet before you turn the mains valve on when you return.
- Drain Water Using Appliances
Shut off the water valve to each water using appliance, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, etc. Any water allowed to sit in these pipes can create mold, mildew, and stale odors. Then shut off and drain your sprinkler system unless you have someone keeping an eye on it or sensitive plants that will not survive.
- Check and Clear the Gutters
This will need to be done a few days or weeks before you leave, don’t attempt to do this on the day before you go on vacation. Ensure that any leaves, sticks, and debris are removed from your gutters so that they can drain rainwater while you’re not at home. If gutters are blocked, a summer storm can easily cause flooding that may affect the foundations.
- Adjust Your Water Heater
If you leave your water heater running while you’re on vacation, you will waste a great deal of energy. Set the water heater temperature to low while you’re away and you could save money on your next energy bill. If you have an on demand water heater, don’t worry about it, this type of water heater only runs when you need hot water.
- Get Someone to Visit
If you need your plants watering or any other tasks that need attention while you’re away, get a friend or family member to check in. If you’ve carried out every tip in this article, they won’t have much to check on, but it’s always helpful to have a trusted person keep tabs on your home while you’re away.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
