Handling Your Plumbing While You're Away On Vacation

Are you about to take off for a lengthy vacation? Maybe you have a seasonal home that you want to prepare for your extended absence. In either scenario, it's important you take the proper steps to make sure your plumbing remains in good condition while you're gone.

Here's a quick overview of some of the actions you should take to protect your plumbing while you're gone on vacation.

Shut the water off

While you're away for an extended period of time, turn off the main water valve to your home. This will prevent a potential plumbing-related accident from occurring. You can even shut off the individual water to your appliances and sinks if you feel like taking the extra effort to do so.

Test the sump pump

If there's a big storm while you're gone, it's important to make sure your sump pump is fully operational. This is the best tool you have in your home to prevent basement flooding. Dump some water down into the sump pit to raise the water level, and make sure the sump pump turns on and does its job. If it fails to eject the water from your home, you should have a professional come and check it out before you leave.

Check your gutters

While the gutters aren't a plumbing component of your home, they are responsible for making sure the rainwater drains away from your foundation. If your gutters aren't clear and allowing water to flow away from your home, then it becomes more likely you'll have to rely too heavily on your sump pump.

Adjust your water heater

Set your water heater on the lowest setting possible so you can reduce the amount of energy it consumes while you're gone. If you wish, you can even turn it off completely, which will prevent any possibility of it flooding. Note of caution, as hot water tanks can breed bacteria such as legionella, you should run the water thru and not use it for 24 hours once temperatures are reset to help eliminate any bacteria buildup. For short periods there is not much benefit to make any changes here.

Check your drains

Check all the drains in your home, including the bathroom, kitchen, basement and laundry room, and make sure they're clear so you can prevent any flooding that could occur as a result of clogged drains. This is also a great time to clean out the drains to combat foul odors and a buildup of bacteria.

Check appliances

Drain and empty appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher, which will help you prevent mold and mildew from forming inside of them. It's a good idea to leave the doors of these appliances open after use so they can air out and avoid moisture and mildew buildup.

Drain sprinkler systems

If you have a sprinkler system on your property, make sure you've drained the system and shut it off completely unless you want it to water your yard while you're on vacation. Otherwise, you run the risk of running up your water bill unnecessarily or having leaks form.

For more information about some of the steps, you can take to protect your plumbing before you go on an extended vacation, contact one of the professionals at PipeMasters today: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063.