No matter how much planning you do in advance, leaving for a vacation is often stressful. Besides trying to remember everything you’ll need, you also need to prep your home for while you’re gone. Sure, you’ve properly locked all the windows and doors and paused your newspaper delivery, but what about completing some plumbing tasks? Below, we’ve outlined some of the most important priorities to consider before leaving your driveway.
The Importance of Making Your Home’s Plumbing a Priority
Being gone for an extended period can increase your risk of property damage taking place. Since there’s often nobody around to notice the issue occurring, extensive property damage can occur. The longer the plumbing problem goes unnoticed, the more severe the damage – and repair costs – can be.
- Turn Off the Water Supply
When you’re going on an extended vacation, make it a habit to turn off the main water supply to your home. Since this task prevents water from entering your home, the risk of a burst pipe or leak occurring is reduced.
After turning off the water supply, be sure to visit each faucet in your home and drain the remaining water out. While you’re at, also detach hoses, drain outside faucets, and turn off your sprinkler system. Over a long period, even the smallest of water leaks and drips can quickly rack up your water bills.
- Check Fixtures, Appliances, and Sump Pump
Turning off individual valves found in toilets and certain appliances can help prevent water from stagnating in pipes, which often causes foul smells or bacteria.
If you’re going away for a while, turning off your water heater can save money and prevent floods. However, if you’re going away during the winter, this could lead to frozen pipes, so instead, set your water heater on vacation mode.
Run some cold water through your garbage disposal to remove any leftover food particles that could rot and smell.
- Inspect Your Property
Take a quick walk around your yard and look for any visible tree root intrusions on your sewer line. Tree roots can grow pretty quickly, leading to some potentially severe damage.
If you notice any tree root intrusions, consider getting them removed before you leave for your holiday.
Even if you complete the tasks outlined above, we strongly suggest you have a trusted neighbour, friend, or family member stop by your home while you’re away. Having someone complete an inspection can help identify plumbing emergencies and prevent any further damage from happening.
When arriving home from a restful vacation, the last thing you want to encounter is a burst pipe or leak! If a plumbing emergency does occur at your Oakville or surrounding area home while you’re away, we’re here to help. Contact our Oakville Plumbers at any time to receive a quick resolution to your plumbing problem.