It’s officially time for summer vacations and let’s face it, we all deserve a much-needed break. Before you head out of town, there are always a few things you should take care of at home, such as making sure your pets will be taken care of and locking all of the doors before you leave. But, if you forget about your plumbing system, there’s a possibility you could return from your vacation to an unwanted mess at home.
Before you catch some waves at the beach this summer, make sure you cross these tasks off your checklist to avoid any plumbing problems while you’re away.
Shut Off the Main Water Valve
Turning off your water supply before you head out of town for a while not only conserves water and saves you money, but it will prevent any leaks that could cause serious damage while you’re away. If there’s a leak or pipe burst while you’re gone, water will keep running and there will be no one home to assess the situation. We advise you to always shut off the main water supply valve before leaving your house for a long period of time.
Drain Your Sprinklers
Drain your hoses and sprinkler system before you leave. If a sprinkler is leaking, that will cause an increase in your water bills while no one is home.
Adjust the Temperature Settings on Your Water Heater
Since you won’t be using your water while you’re away, there’s no need for your water to be heated during that time. Most water heaters have a “vacation mode” setting for you to utilize or you can just turn the water heater off completely. This will save you money while you’re on vacation since you’re not using the unit.
Check Your Drains and Garbage Disposal
A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing issues. While you’re soaking up the sun on vacation, you want to have some peace of mind that nothing is clogging your drains or garbage disposal at home. Any leftover food particles or moisture can cause foul odors, which is not something you want to come home to.
Check for Leaks
Do you remember the last time you checked for leaks around your house? Do a quick inspection and look at the pipes in your house before leaving for vacation. If there are any that have even the smallest leak, take care of it right away and don’t wait until you’re back from vacation to fix it. This will only cause further water damage and increase your utility bill.
Clear Debris from Your Gutters
Inspect your gutters before you leave and make sure there are no leaves, sticks, or other debris blocking them. You want to make sure your home is protected from any potential water damage while you’re away.
Appliances
Always make sure your dishwasher, washer, and dryer are empty before you jet off on vacation. If possible, leave the doors open to air out the machines. And of course, always make sure all of your appliances are turned off and unplugged.
Ask a Neighbor to Check In
There’s no harm in asking a trusted neighbor to check in on your home once or twice while you’re gone to make sure there are no emergencies. Give them an extra house key and ask if they can quickly check in while you’re away. You’ll have some peace of mind knowing someone is checking in on the house.
San Dimas Plumbing Services
After you go through this checklist before your summer vacation, let us know if you have any leaks or clogs you need repaired before soaking up the sun. Our team at Alpine Plumbing and Rooter is only one call away at (626) 349-6631 and we’ll be right out to get your plumbing system back up and running in no time.
The post How to Prepare Your Plumbing Before Going on Vacation? appeared first on Alpine Plumbing and Rooter.