Plumbing Tips To Prepare Your Home For Vacation
You’ve probably heard a few stories from neighbors or friends that head out for a week of relaxation, only to return to a house full of water and months of restoration work. Before you head out the door for your next vacation, do a simple walk through to make sure your plumbing is safe and secure, and won’t cause you problems even while you’re away.
Turn off the water. While you’re away on summer vacation consider turning off the main water shut off valve to avoid a potential accident. By turning off your main shut off valve, you’re not allowing any water to enter your home. If you decide to do this, make sure you open up your faucets and drain the remaining water out. Should you want to go the extra mile, you can shut off the individual water valves to the washing machine, dishwasher, toilets, and ice-maker. Now your home will be as dry as a bone.
If you choose not to turn of the main water shut off value, here are a few things you should check before heading out of town:
- Check your laundry machine hoses. Believe it or not, the life expectancy of a washing machine hose is roughly 3 years. Before you leave for vacation, make sure you visually inspect the hose for any cracks or a major calcium deposit build up.
- Visually inspect your water heater. If you see any water on the floor before you leave, make sure to give us a call. This could be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced or repaired. Hopefully, there are no visible signs of a leak and you may proceed with your vacation as planned. We recommend turning your water heater temperature down, off, or put the system in vacation mode, if possible. You can also opt to completely shut it off to prevent the possibility of flooding.
- Keep it dry. Check every appliance for dampness and corrosion. If you spot something, contact a professional before you leave for vacation.
- Have a pool? Run the pool pump. Turning off the pool pump can cause algae build-up. If you plan to be gone for more than a few days, keep the pool pump on at optimal setting to make sure it’s operating properly while you’re away.
- Ask someone to check on your home. Have a friend, neighbor, or family member stop by to check on your home while you’re on vacation. It’ll give you some peace of mind while you’re away. In addition, make sure you provide them with a list of emergency contacts…including your awesome plumber!
With Doug Herrell Plumbing’s checklist of tips, your vacation will be spent enjoying summer, not worrying about what you might come home to. If you need our assistance in prepping your home or fixing your plumbing before you leave, contact us! We’d be happy to help.
Contact Doug Herrell Plumbing Today!
About Doug Herrell Plumbing
Doug Herrell Plumbing has been Brevard County’s source for plumbing services since 1980. We are a family owned and operated business and take tremendous pride in providing honest and reliable plumbing services at an affordable price.
CALL 321-254-0004
LIC # CFC 048487
Serving Melbourne, Palm Bay, Viera, Suntree, Titusville, Merritt Island, Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach, Rockledge, West Melbourne, Cocoa, and Cocoa Beach.
