Vacations are supposed to be worry free, void of any stress about what you left back home for just a few days of relaxing on the beach or hiking mountains.

Any homeowner wants to come back after vacation to no surprises and a house exactly as they left it. Shocks and disasters can spoil any and all good feelings you just had on vacation, especially if flooding or other major damage has been happening while you were away.

These mistakes or accidents can cause huge damage to your home, and require a hefty repair cost to bring back to normal.

Here are 7 plumbing tips to consider before you go on vacation:

1. Check for leaks

Check any pipes for leaking before leaving. Nothing ruins your post vacation return like coming home to find signs of a flood. You could find evidence of them under your house, in the basement, under the bathroom or kitchen sinks, underneath home appliances such as the washing machine, dishwasher, fridge or water heater. Also around toilets and faucets. If you see any signs of water staining, including ones that look like the water has already dried, call a plumber.

2. Prevent foul odors

Nobody wants to come home to disgusting smells having been trapped wafting in their house for the past couple weeks. To prevent odors clean your pipes and food garbage disposal before you leave. Use any solution over the counter solution or vinegar to clean pipes,and ice cubes and cold water for garbage disposals.

3. Turn off water heater

Depending on how long you’re going to be away for, you want to shut off your water heater so as not to use extra energy. Some heaters come with vacation mode that puts it into very low energy consuming mode, or shuts its off completely. Another option is to turn off your main water supply, providing water to the entire house. This is done for extra long vacations when there will be nobody using the plumbing system for at least a few weeks. If turning off your main water supply, make sure to empty out all the faucets available.

4. Have emergency info ready

If someone is looking after your house while you’re away, make sure they have the necessary info to reach you in case of emergency. It is also a good idea to leave a plumber’s number incase you are not able to make it home in time.

5. Turn off ice maker and empty out fridge

Prevent any chance of a broken ice maker and the resulting problems, such as leaks in and behind the fridge, by turning it off while you’re away. Emptying out the fridge is also important. Leaving meat or dairy products for too long can cause them to expire and then smell up not only the fridge but the entire house if its for a long enough time. This is especially important during the hot summer months.

6. Check laundry machine hoses

The average laundry machine hose will last around 3 to 5 years. Make sure your hose is working properly and doesn’t have any cracks or calcium deposits running along it.

About Draintony

We are a locally owned and operated plumbing company, providing residential and commercial owner plumbing services. We specialize in Drain Repair, Drain Cleaning, Basement Waterproofing, Sump Pump Installation, Clogged Toilets and more. Our team at Draintony is dedicated to providing you premier plumbing quality and premier plumbing services.