Many people are starting to plan their summer vacations. While we don’t have advice for you about what lake is best or what to pack, we do want to talk to you about your pre-vacation plumbing needs. Not only will these three items only save you money they may prevent potential property damage.
Turn Off Your Water
If you’re just leaving for the weekend, there’s no need to worry. However, if you plan to leave for several days, or weeks, you may want to turn off the main water supply to your home. Burst pipes and leaks, especially while you are away, can cause significant damage. By shutting off the ability for water to enter your house, you are preventing any of that potential damage from happening inside your home, while you are gone. It’s also a wise idea to disconnect hoses, drain outside faucets, and turn off your sprinkler system.
Check Fixtures and Appliances
If you are going on an extended vacation, you might also consider turning off individual valves to your washing machines and toilets, so water doesn’t stagnate and become foul while you are away! Run water through your garbage disposal to ensure it doesn’t have food particles in the drain left to rot and stink. Check your water heater for any leaks (see if there are any puddles of water forming) and consider turning it off to save money for extended periods of vacation.
Test your Sump Pump
If you are prone to flooding, it’s important to test that your sump pump is operational before leaving. One summer storm in Manitoba and you could come home to a flood. There’s no better way to lose your post-vacation relaxation than walking into a huge mess from a flood! The easiest way to check the Sump Pump is to dump a bucket of water into the pit, ensure it turns on and pumps water out appropriately. Ask a neighbour to check on it if there’s a storm and consider getting a backup battery to run the sump pump if there’s a power outage while you are gone.
We know vacations are fun and the last thing we want to do is add to the to -do - list. But with doing these simple steps and checking theses things quickly, will give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.