In the excitement of preparing for a vacation, it can be easy to forget those details that can come back to haunt you. If your house experiences a plumbing issue while you are away, then that problem will only grow until the damage gets to be thousands of dollars. In order to avoid that kind of a problem, there are a few steps you can take before you walk out the door to enjoy your holiday.
Turn off the Main Water Valve
The best way to avoid any leaks or water issues in your home is to turn off your main water valve and stop the flow of water into your home. However, if you have a home heating system based on water flow, then you may have to settle for just turning off the water flow to your toilets and your sinks.
If you are unsure as to how to turn off the water to your home or your fixtures, then a professional organization such as EZ Plumbing Inc can stop by before you leave for your vacation and show you how it is done.
Keep The Furnace Running
Some people turn their furnace off when they go on vacation to save money on natural gas and electricity. But without heat in your home, your pipes could freeze and burst. You can save money on your energy bills and prevent a plumbing disaster by keeping your furnace at between 45 and 50 degrees while you are gone.
Have People Check Your Home for You
Before you leave on your vacation, give a house key to a trusted friend or family member and ask them to check on your house once or twice while you are gone. Make sure that you give that trusted friend or family member a phone number they can reach you at in case something does happen.
Check Hose Connections Inside Your Home
As part of your final checklist before leaving on vacation, check the hoses on your dishwasher, clothes washer and any other interior fixture you have connected to your home’s water supply with a hose. Make sure the connections are tight and that the hoses are not leaking.
Do a Quick Check on Your Water Heater
Water heaters can fail at any moment and if it happens when you are gone, then that means a watery mess when you get back. Check your water heater to see if the tank is either leaking now, or if there are rust-colored stains on the basement floor to indicate that it was leaking. If you see any signs of leaks, call in a professional plumber before you leave to address the problem.
If you have a plumbing disaster in your home while you are away on your vacation, then the damage can be significant by the time you get back into town. Take the necessary preventative steps to avoiding a plumbing disaster before you head out on vacation.
