When you go out on a vacation, it is inevitable that you will have to leave your home unattended. Even if it is only for a few days, there are still things that need to be taken care of. One of these is plumbing. Here are some plumbing priorities that you need to take care when going out on vacation:
Get a professional plumber to check your plumbing system before leaving. This can help prevent problems while you are away from home and save some time when you return. The last thing you want is to come back and find your entire house flooded with water because of a busted pipe.
Check all the faucets in the house, especially those ones that use a lot of water like the kitchen sink or refrigerator icemaker. Make sure they are turned off tightly so no water can leak out when left unattended for long periods of time.
Make sure the water heater is set at a safe temperature. Many people leave their water heaters set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause burns if someone gets too close. If this is the case with your water heater, lower it to between 110 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit before you leave so no one gets hurt while they are staying in your home while you are away.
Disconnect garden hoses and faucets. When you leave town for an extended period of time, disconnect all hoses and faucets so that no one can accidentally turn them on and flood your home. Also make sure that all outside irrigation systems are turned off as well. This is especially important if you live in an area where heavy rains are common during certain times of year because even a little bit of extra water can cause serious damage over time if it isn’t properly vented out of your home’s foundation or drainage system.
Make sure all faucets and drains are turned off when leaving on vacation, especially those located outside of the house (such as sprinkler systems).
Turn off the water supply valves under sinks and tubs so that no water leaks out when no one is home to fix it right away. This will also prevent frozen pipes during winter months when temperatures drop below freezing outside or inside as well if heaters aren’t turned up enough or if heaters break down during extreme weather conditions like hurricanes or tornadoes (or even snow storms).
