Vacation is supposed to be a time for rest and relaxation. A time to connect to family, friends, or yourself, not worrying about your home. It is definitely not ideal to come home to water all over the floor of your home. While not all water damages can be prevented, here are several simple steps you take to prevent water damage from happening in your home. Water damage can be devastating to your home and the things inside your home. These are tips that you can use when you’re leaving your home for a few days or months.
Before you leave, we recommend turning off the main water supply to your home. This will be the best step in preventing water damage while you are away. Make sure to test that the supply is fully turned off by turning on a faucet after turning it off. Here’s a great article that details how to turn off the main water supply- https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/prevent-water-damage-while-you-are-away/
If you can’t turn off the main water supply because of the sprinkler system or someone is coming by to water your plants/pet sit we suggest turning off the supply lines to each toilet and washing machine.
Ensure that the gutters and downspouts are cleared prior to leaving. Also, check the outside spigots are not leaking or damaged. If its winter, it would be wise to cover the spigots to avoid any freezing issues.
Check all the windows and doors are sealed and no water or wind can get through.
Keep the HVAC system on inside the home to regulate the temperature and humidity inside the home. This could help keep the pipes from freezing in the winter or if there is damage help control the humidity. We recommend keeping the temperature about 60 in the winter and 80 in the summer. Just keep it on and circulating.
Also, it’s a great idea to turn off and unplug electronics or appliances. This is both to cut the energy bill while you’re away, but also a safety issue.
If you have a trusted neighbor, friend or family member have them stop by the home daily, or every other day to check on the home. Time is of the essence when it comes to reporting a water damage. If the water sits for a long time, the damage to the home or contents of the home can be worse.
If you do have an emergency water issue, please give us a call and we can help remediate the situation immediately. Also call your insurance company to help start the process. We cannot stress this enough; quick response is best when dealing with water. Please give us a call if you have any questions or concerns. Advice is always free.
