Summer has arrived, and even better, the world is opening back up for travel and some much-needed vacation time. But before you load up the car or take an UBER to the airport, there are a few things you need to check off your to-do list. Having this plumbing checklist will help to avoid coming home to some unpleasant and costly issues.
Shut Off The Water
When your home is empty for a week or more, you can find yourself worrying about water leaks, costly damage, and other unnecessary concerns. However, turning off the water supply to your home can remove this unwanted stress from your vacation time. But there are a few things to take into consideration before shutting off all the water to your house.
First, if you have a sprinkler system, are you able to shut off only the water to the inside of your home? You don’t want to shut off your sprinklers in hot weather and come home to a crisp and burnt lawn surrounded by dead plants. Second, if you have a swimming pool, can you leave the water running to your auto-fill? It can be a very costly mistake to shut off the water to a swimming pool. Too much evaporation can cause the water level in the pool to drop substantially. This low water level could result in the interior of the pool drying out and cracking. And if the water is below the pump intake line, you could come home to discover that your pump burned up with no water circulating to keep it cool.
Water Heater Maintenance
Even if the water is turned off inside your house, the water heater holds between 40 and 80 gallons of water. If the tank, valves, or fittings begin to leak, a lot of water could ruin flooring, walls, and personal belongings. Having your annual water heater inspection and service completed before your vacation is a great way to know that the unit will function perfectly when you return home and that there are no worrisome leaks. Also, be sure you know how to turn the power off to your home’s water heater. It will save you a significant amount of energy while you are away.
Test Your Sump Pump
You never know when a storm will pop up. And it is better to have inspected and tested your home’s sump pump to eliminate the potential for a costly flood. Dump a large bucket of water into the sump pit to ensure that the pump activates and removes the water. Also, check the intake and output for any clogs or damage that could impair the unit’s function.
Is It Time For A Professional Drain Cleaning?
Having your home’s drains professionally cleaned once each year is the best way to avoid costly clogs, backups, and messy floods. Having the drains cleaned before your vacation will ensure that you will not return home to a problematic drain or a stinky house. Often, drains that are not used for a week or more will begin to fill your home with a foul odor from all the residue build-up. But a visit from your favorite plumber can eliminate that residue and any clogs before you close the house up for vacation.
To eliminate all of the worry and stress of potential plumbing issues when you are on vacation, call (701) 402-6643. The licensed plumbers at A-1 Plumbing can take care of all of these tasks to help you prepare for the fun and relaxing vacation that you deserve.