You do your best to make sure everything is in order as you prepare to go on vacation. You check with the neighbors, double check your “items to take on vacation” list, and make arrangements for your pets. When you leave, you expect to come home to the same house you left. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
A major plumbing disaster could occur while you’re on vacation and leave you with a disaster to come home to. Luckily, there are a few things you can do before you go on vacation to prepare your plumbing so you don’t have to worry about plumbing problems while you’re away.
1. Check for Leaks Throughout Your Home
Take the time to check all appliances, pipes, and plumbing fixtures for leaks. You may have a small leak that you don’t even know about that could easily create a big problem while you’re away. The last thing you want to deal with is water damage.
2. Consider Shutting Off the Main Valve
If you are going to be away for several days and don’t have anyone coming in to water the plants or watch the house, you may want to shut off the main water valve outside of your home. This will prevent any major disasters immediately, but it’s not an option for everyone.
3. Leave the Water Heater on or Set to Vacation Mode
If you haven’t already read our reasons for leaving the water heater on when you go on vacation, you might want to do that. You can leave it alone completely or you can set it to vacation mode. If your water heater doesn’t have a vacation mode, you can turn it down if you really want to save the money.
4. Empty and Open Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine
Take the time to empty and clean your dishwasher and washing machine before you go because these appliances can easily have mold and mildew growing by the time you get back. Give them a good cleaning once their empty and leave them open to air out to prevent mold and mildew.
5. Ask a Neighbor or Friend to Check In
When you’re planning on being away for several days or longer, you may want to have someone to check in on your home for peace of mind. A friend or neighbor can easily go into your home and make sure everything is okay and call you if things aren’t. This is a good plan to prevent plumbing emergencies and leaks while you’re away because they would spot a busted pipe or other problem that would otherwise go for days or weeks.
Remember, plumbing emergencies can happen even when you aren’t home and using your plumbing. If you find yourself in need of plumbing help before you go on vacation, while your gone, or after you return, just give us a call.
