4 Tips to Avoid Plumbing Disaster While on Vacation

You’ve bought your tickets, planned your itinerary and packed your suitcases. Everything is set and everyone is excited. But coming home from a memorable trip and learning that a pipe leaked or burst while you’re gone can be downright devastating.

Whether you’re leaving for a long weekend or a month-long getaway, proper preparation can help prevent coming home to a disaster. Here’s how to prevent plumbing disasters while on vacation.

Test your sump pump

Sump pump helps keep water out of your basement. If a major storm comes while you’re gone and your sump pump fails, you could come home to a flooded basement. 

It’s a good idea to test your sump pump before you leave. Dump water down the sump pit and make sure that it’s in proper working condition.

Check for leaks

Even a small leak can turn into a large problem if left unattended. Inspect the water heater for cracks and rust. If that water tank leaks, you’d better catch it quick. Inspect the hoses, making sure that there are no leaks or kinks. Also, check all the pipes under the sink as this may also be a source of undetected leak. If you do find something, be sure to address the problem as soon as possible. 

Turn off main water valve

Locate your main water shut off valve. If you don’t know where it is, look for you water meter. It should be located nearby. Turning off the main water valve cuts off water to the house. This is your best protection against catastrophic water damage. 

Ask a friend to help

Ask a neighbor, a friend or a relative to check on your home periodically while you’re away just to make sure everything is in order. It may be a good idea to give this person a key to the house. Also, make sure that he or she knows where the main water valve is located in case a pipe bursts or leaks.