Top Tips To Prevent Plumbing Problems While On Vacation

A plumbing problem is a major household concern. It can be such a hassle to attend to things like clogged drains, dripping faucets, leaking hose bibb, leaky pipes, low water pressure, running toilets, and sump pump failure, among others. If you’re at home, you can fix these problems yourself if you know what to do. If you don’t, or if a major plumbing disaster strikes, you can immediately contact a plumber for help.

But here’s the thing: what if you aren’t at home when these plumbing issues happen? After a relaxing and satisfying vacation, you don’t want to face all the plumbing problems in the world. The last thing you want is to go home to a flooded basement. It can be such a pain in the ass. To prevent this from happening, you need to resort to preventive measures prior to going on a vacation. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent a plumbing emergency. Here are some tips on how you can avoid plumbing problems while you’re on vacation.

Flapper Valve: seal the valve properly.

If you didn’t know, a flapper valve is a simple mechanism in your toilet tank. It allows your tank to refill after every flush. But flapper valves can sometimes get hung up, which means they either do not form a proper seal or do not close at all. In that case, the water will fill up the tank and continuously drip. If you are at home, you can simply run to the toilet and fix the problem immediately. But what if you aren’t? You’ll end up with an expensive water bill. That’s why you should make sure to seal the flapper valves properly. If there’s a problem, seek help from a plumber before you go on vacation.

Main Water Supply: shut it off.

Shutting off the main water supply is another preventive measure you can take. Doing so will give you peace of mind, particularly if you’ll be on vacation for several weeks at a time. Shutting off the main water supply will minimize the risk of water leakage. It’s best if you are familiar with where your main water supply is and how you can turn it off and on. Before leaving your home, you should make sure it is completely turned off. Even when you’re not on vacation, knowing how to turn it off will help in case you have sudden plumbing problems.

Water Heater: turn it off.

Apart from the main water supply, it’s imperative that you turn off the water heater before leaving. The former works in tandem with the latter. If you leave your hot water heater on without water, it will continue to heat up, which may cause damage to your home. You know that a water heater is used to heat water for baths, showers, and washing dishes and clothes. That said, it’s practical to turn it off when no one’s going to use it, since you’re going on vacation. Before leaving, you need to check if your water heater is working properly. If you suspect there’s an issue, you need to call a plumber as soon as possible.

Caretaker: have someone check in.

Finally, when you’re on vacation, what better way to avoid plumbing problems at home than to ask someone reliable to check up on your home? Have a friend or relative drop by and attend to things such as watering the plants or collecting your mail. Tell him or her to check the house for plumbing problems as well. He or she can simply walk through the house to check for any leaks or whatever. That will go a long way towards preventing plumbing problems while you’re on a relaxing vacation.