The last thing you want to worry about while you’re gone on vacation is your plumbing back at home. That’s why it’s so important to take time to prep your pipes and water-using appliances before you head out. Use the following tips to protect your home and enjoy a worry-free vacation.
Shut off Your Water Heater Before You Leave
Shutting off your water heater before an extended trip can help lower energy use while you’re away. For both electric and gas units, you can switch the breaker off at your breaker panel. For gas water heaters, turn off the gas valve leading to your unit. If your water heater has a vacation mode, use that instead of shutting it off.
Flush All Toilets
Flush each toilet in the home right before you leave. Make sure there is enough water in the tank and bowl to prevent sewer gases from leaking out.
Shut off Water To Washing Machine and Dishwasher
Flooding from loose washing machine hoses is a common reason we get service calls in Lexington. The damage can quickly spread through your flooring and subfloor, especially if you’re on vacation and don’t know it’s happening. Turning off the water supply to the washing machine and dishwasher provides an extra layer of security against unexpected hose failures.
Turn off the Ice Maker To Prevent Damage
Even if you have the home’s main water valve shut off, you must still take time to turn the ice maker off. If you don’t, it may try to cycle while you’re gone. You don’t want this to happen. When the ice maker cycles without water, it can damage the solenoid valve.
Test Water Pressure Regulator if Applicable
Use a gauge to check whether your home’s pressure regulator is keeping your water pressure below 60 PSI. Pressure above this level is a frequent contributor to stressed plumbing joints and burst pipes.
Turn off Main Water Valve
With the main water valve turned off, you won’t have to worry about flooding while you’re away. Even if a pipe were to burst, the amount of water that could escape is limited to what is already sitting in the lines.
Turn on Highest and Lowest Faucets To Drain Pipes
Once you turn off the main water valve, open faucets on both the highest and lowest levels of your home. By opening faucets, it allows the remaining water in the pipes to drain out naturally through gravity and helps relieve pressure in your plumbing system.
Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
If you leave hoses attached to outdoor faucets, they keep the spigot under constant pressure, increasing the risk of slow leaks. Disconnecting them reduces strain on the fixture and helps prevent leakage while you’re away.
Ensure Sprinkler Systems Are Off
If your home has a sprinkler or irrigation system, make sure you turn it off before you leave. After shutting off the main water supply, confirm that any connected irrigation controls are disabled or set to “off” mode. If your system is on a timer or smart controller, pause or deactivate it so it does not attempt to run while the water is off.
Test Sump Pump
Kentucky weather is unpredictable. An unexpected storm could roll through Lexington while you’re on vacation. Testing your sump pump before you head out is a wise move for preventing the nightmare of returning to a flooded basement.
Use Mineral Oil To Stop Drain Odors While You’re Away
Pour two to four ounces of mineral oil down the sink, shower, and bath drains. Because oil has a lower density than water, it forms a thin barrier that slows the evaporation of water in the P-traps. Most importantly, it reduces the risk of foul sewer gases drifting into your living spaces while you’re away from your home.
Schedule a Professional Plumbing Inspection Before Traveling
You’ll travel with much more confidence if you schedule an inspection a few days before you hit the road. One of our plumbers will check every part of your plumbing system, including pipes, drains, shut-off valves, supply lines, and more. If we spot potential vulnerabilities, we’ll go over your repair options. Fixing any underlying issues before you go will make it much easier to enjoy your vacation.
Make your next vacation more relaxing by ensuring your plumbing is in good shape back at home. Contact Pipe Surgeon Plumbing before your trip to book a plumbing inspection in Lexington.
