Secure Plumbing Before You Travel
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Before going out of town, you'll want to make sure your house's plumbing is secure. Preventing water damage is infinitely easier than repairing it. As 45% of all property damage is caused by water, making sure the pipes are safe is one of the best ways to remain worry-free while traveling.
Here are some of our top tips to secure your plumbing before leaving for a vacation.
Check the heater
As a water heater holds tens of gallons of water, it can cause massive damage if it breaks. Check the heater for any leaks or water damage to the pipes. Additionally, turn off the heater or put it on the lowest setting to conserve electricity while away.
Inspect the appliances
As with the heater, make sure that all water-using appliances are secured. Washing machines and dishwashers are a priority, but the same can apply to a refrigerator with an ice maker. Supply hoses might be challenging to reach, but making sure they're tight and leak-proof is better than finding your floor flooded.
As an additional precaution, consider replacing traditional rubber hoses with burst-proof options. While rubber or plastic can stiffen and leak, especially if the area has hard water in the supply, steel can take more stress and still perform well.
Test your sump pump
A sump pump system makes sure the basement doesn't flood with groundwater. Before a trip:
Test the sump pump by pouring water in the pit and making sure it's pumped out properly.
If it's not, make sure the pump is plugged in and check its breaker too.
Ensure the outlet pipe isn't clogged as that will prevent the water from dispersing.
Shut off the water supply
If you're going away on an extended vacation, shut off the house's primary water supply. Old valves can break or get stuck. If the main valve is stuck, don't force it. Call a plumber to replace it at the earliest convenience.
If you can't or don't want to shut off the main supply, close the valves to the toilets and the appliances directly. Typically, these are small valves in the bathroom, toilet, or kitchen that you turn to shut off the water. While shutting off the supply to the appliances and toilets still leaves water in the main pipes, those are more resistant to damage and should cause fewer concerns.
When you return, be sure to turn on the valves slowly and not overwhelm the systems. A sudden increase in water pressure can be devastating to older pipes.
Frost-proofing the faucets
If you're worried about freaky weather conditions causing pipes and faucets to freeze over, there are frost-proof options available for outdoor faucets. When the temperature gets below freezing (as rare as that might be), the outdoor faucets are the ones most likely to burst, so make sure to prepare adequately.
Monitor the water supply
These days, there are many tools available to make sure your plumbing is secure. Water flow sensors can be installed on the main water line to monitor for unusual output and automatically shut off the supply. Many newer models come with additional options and Wi-Fi connectivity and can remotely notify you about any issues. Additionally, leak sensors can detect water, so installing them near appliances can minimize damage and prevent further collapse.
Summary
Overall, it's essential to check your plumbing before leaving for a trip. Precautions can be time-consuming and costly, but they are ultimately money-saving measures that prevent significant water damage to the house or check this great vacation spot: Hilton Head Vacation Rentals. For that reason, it's well worth the time and money to make sure everything is under control before leaving the house for extended periods.
Guest Contributor: Richa Khandelwal