Short-Term Vacations
Short-term vacations range anywhere from two days to two weeks away from your home and require simple steps to prepare your plumbing. Before you leave for a few days, consider checking these Gainesville “plumber’s essentials” off your list.
Individual Plumbing Fixtures
Before leaving for a short trip, homeowners should consider their home’s water supply. Many homeowners opt to turn off their home’s main water valve while other homeowners will turn off the individual plumbing fixtures to home appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, and sinks, to reduce the number of places water can cause damage should a leak occur.
Check For Leaks
The best way to prevent leaks from happening while you’re away is to ensure there are no leaks already present in your home. Plumbers in Gainesville, FL, can inspect your home for leaks in walls, ceilings, floors and pipes and make any necessary repairs before you leave for vacation, helping ensure your home is safe from water damage.
Inspect Gutters
Gutters are responsible for draining rainwater from the roof. If you think it may rain while you’re away, be sure to inspect your home’s gutters. To make sure gutters can drain excess water efficiently while you’re away, remove any debris, leaves and sticks in the inlet.
Long-Term Vacations
Individuals who spend many months away from their properties, such as snowbirds, should take certain steps to prepare plumbing systems for any significant amount of time away. Anyone spending an upwards of three weeks away from their homes should prep their plumbing for long term trips with these tips:
Turn Off The Main Valve
For those spending a few weeks, a month or more away from their home, shutting off the main valve that controls the water is the best protection against catastrophic water damage. In addition to shutting off individual plumbing fixtures, as you would for a short-term vacation, shutting off the main valve will ensure that your home is “water-free” for the time you spend away. To find your home’s main valve, locate your water meter, as the main valve will be located nearby.
Consider Your Water Heater
While you prepare for a long term vacation, contact a reliable Gainesville plumber at Quality Plumbing of Gainesville Inc. to tune up your water heater. This includes draining your water heater to prevent potential leaks from happening while you’re away. Turning off your home’s water heater will prevent water from heating in the tank when there is nobody home to use it, saving you money in the long run.
Check the Pipes
For long term vacations, it’s important to make sure your home’s pipes are taken care of. Enlist the help of a trusted plumber to run water through your pipes and flush your toilets at least once each month. Show them where your home’s main water valve is and instruct them on how to turn it off and on. Running water through pipes at least once a month will both prevent sewer gases from penetrating your pipes or home and keep fixtures from becoming dry or cracked when they are unused, reducing the chance for emergency plumbing repairs while you’re away for an extended period of time.