Tuesday, July 10th, 2018
Get your plumbing ready for summer vacation
Follow these tips to make sure a plumbing problem won’t ruin your summer vacation
When it’s time to hit the road or the skies for summer vacation, the last thing you want worry about is your home’s plumbing. Before you head out for the getaway you’ve been looking forward to, it’s a very good idea to check your home’s plumbing.
Just a few simple changes and checks can save you money on your utility bills and help you avoid costly repairs. And it will give you the peace of mind from knowing that while you’re away, your home’s plumbing is working the way it should be.
Take a look at the checklist we’ve created to help you get your plumbing as vacation ready as you are.
Shut off water main – This is the source of all water entering your home through your home’s plumbing. New homes will have a handle that takes a simple quarter-turn to close and open. Older homes will have a knob like any exterior faucet. It is a good idea to know where this shut off valve is located for both extended periods away and when a water emergency happens.
Open faucets – Do this on your lower levels to relieve all water pressure throughout the home.
Check the gutters – Do an inspection of the gutters before you leave and clean out any debris including leaves and tree sticks. This will ensure that your gutters can handle rains while you’re away, so your home’s foundation stays safe.
Turn off the water heater – Tank water heaters, whether natural gas or electricity, use quite a bit of energy. To lower your utility bills while you’re away, turn off the hot water heater on either the main shutoff handle or the circuit panel. Or, check to see if your heater has a vacation setting you can take advantage of instead.
Unless there will be freezing temperatures while you’re gone, there is no risk to turning off your water heater – you’ll just have a little more money to spend on your vacation. Not sure you want to turn the water heater completely off? Consider keeping it at the lowest setting instead.
Drain the washing machine and dishwasher – This is a good idea to avoid mildew and mold that can accumulate if there’s even a small amount of moisture or water in them that hasn’t drained. Consider keeping the doors to the washing machine and dishwasher open as well.
Don’t turn off the pool pump – If the pool pump isn’t working, it will cause algae to build up. Instead, keep it running on an optimal setting while you are gone.
Drain your sprinkler system – If you’re not planning on watering your lawn with your sprinklers while you’re away, drain the system and shut it off. This will avoid a higher water bill due to a leak in the sprinkler system which can happen even if the leak is a small one.
Clean interior drains – Make sure all of the drains in your home – from the bathrooms to the kitchen – are clean. A store bought, environmentally-friendly drain cleaner can work wonders to keep bacteria and odor at bay.
Call a friend – Have someone check on your home. Ask a friend or neighbor to check on your home while you’re on vacation. You may even consider giving them a checklist of things you want them to check to make sure everything is working properly. Be sure to give them your plumber’s contact information so they can get in touch with a professional if there’s a plumbing issue that needs to be addressed quickly.
Don’t let a plumbing problem get in the way of some well-deserved downtime. Follow our simple summer vacation plumbing check list, sit back, and relax. The team at Allied Reddi-Rooter has you covered. Call or Contact the at Allied Reddi-Rooter, 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.