Tips for Preventing Water Damage While on Vacation

8/27/2019 (Permalink)

Check your water heater for leaks

When you go on vacation, you want to be able to relax knowing that your home in Berwyn, IL, is safe and sound. One of the biggest worries a homeowner can face is that of water damage and water pipe repair. Luckily, there are certain steps you can take to prevent this from happening while you're away.

Inspect Everything

First, you will want to make a thorough sweep of your home, in order to make sure nothing is leaking and everything is sealed up tight. Some commonly problematic areas to include in your inspection are:

• clear the debris from the sump pump
  
• check your water heater for leaks
  
• make sure there isn't a leaking or broken pipe under any of your sinks
  
• see that the hoses that connect to major appliances are in good shape
  
  

Prepare Your Home

Next, you might want to take certain measures to prepare various protection systems in your house. You can clean out your gutters. Reseal any windows or repair your roof if necessary. If you found a leak, do some water pipe repair before you go. If you are taking a vacation in the winter, insulate your pipes and leave the cupboards open so they don't freeze. Finally, remember to turn off your water, and flush the toilets after you do so to drain them of water.

Keep an Eye On It

If possible, have someone visit your home periodically throughout your absence to make sure it's not flooded. You can ask a friend or you could hire someone. Another option is to install a leak detection system. They will set off an alarm and can notify your phone. It's also a good idea to have a licensed water damage restoration specialist picked out, in case you do need to address a situation right away from afar.
The last thing you want to do when taking a much needed vacation is rush home to complete a water pipe repair. If you leave your home in top condition and make sure it is looked after, you won't ever have to!