7 Plumbing Tips To Consider Before Vacation

After the weather we’ve had in May, we started to wonder if we’d ever see the sun again!  But alas, Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer, is rapidly approaching.  Nearly a million Americans will hit the road this upcoming weekend heading out of town to enjoy the long weekend!  Before you leave, take a look at the tips below to ensure your home is ready for “vacation-mode”.

We’ve gathered a list of pre-vacation tips to avoid plumbing problems while you’re out of town!

• Check your laundry machine hoses.
  • Believe it or not, the life expectancy of a laundry machine hose is roughly 3 years. Before you leave for vacation, make sure you visually inspect the hose for any cracks or a major calcium deposit build up.

• Leave your heat ON!
  • Even though it’s getting warmer outside the nights still tend to get fairly cold. Make sure your heat is set to at least 58 degrees!

• Visually inspect your water heater.
  • If you see any water on the floor before you leave, make sure to give us a call. This could be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced or repaired.
  • If there are no visible signs of a leak, you can always turn your water heater off or put the system in vacation mode if possible.

• Is your sump pump working? And do you have a backup system in case it fails?
  • They say “April showers bring May flowers”, but lately that saying is “April showers bring May showers!  Follow these simple tips to ensure that you system is working properly.   If you don’t have a backup system, read more about your options.  A battery backup system may be a basement saver!

• Prevent odors from happening.
  • The last thing you want to come home to is a foul odor emanating from your drains! Do yourself a favor and run some ice cubes and cold water through your garbage disposal before you leave.  This will push any food particles down the drain so they can properly wash away.

• If you’re gone for several weeks, consider shutting off your main shut off valve.
  • By turning off your main shut off valve, you’re not allowing any water to enter your home. If you decide to do this, make sure you open up your faucets and drain the remaining water out.

• Provide a list of emergency contact numbers!
  • If you have a friend, family member, or neighbor stopping by to check on your house while you’re gone, make sure you provide them with a list of emergency contacts…including your plumber!

Len The Plumber is here to provide you with Same Day Service, 7 Days A Week—including weekends and holidays!  We know that there’s never a convenient time to experience a plumbing issue, so that’s why we’re here for you.  Give us a call today or schedule a service online to get your home’s plumbing system back in working order!