The holidays are quickly approaching, which means it’s prime time for a road trip. Preparing to hit the highway means packing and laundry, taking time off work, and prepping your vehicle for the journey, but have you taken the time to prep your house for your absence this holiday season?
Having a plumbing emergency when you’re out of town is a nightmare – not only are you not around to fix it, but you may not even notice it until you get home from your trip and the damage is done. Don’t let your holiday season come to a screeching halt; prepare your house for plumbing issues before you leave and get the peace of mind you deserve.
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How can you protect your home from plumbing issues this holiday season?
Tip #1: Make sure you set your thermostat. You may think you’ll save a few bucks by not running the heat while you’re gone, but this can actually cause frozen pipes in winter (which can lead to major, expensive damage in your home). Set your home’s thermostat so the temperature doesn’t go below 60 degrees before you leave. If you have a smart home system, check your home’s temperature periodically to help ensure you don’t have a plumbing emergency when your vacation comes to an end.
Tip #2: Disconnect hoses and turn off exterior faucets. A good way to prevent frozen pipes in winter is to stop water from running through them. We recommend shutting off the water to your exterior fauces from the shutoff valve to prevent freezing. Also, don’t forget to disconnect your hoses – if a hose is left out with water in it, it can freeze and push the ice back into your plumbing system.
Tip #3: Turn off the water… entirely. We recommend shutting off your water completely if you’re going to be out of town during the winter season. You can quickly and easily turn it off at the primary shutoff valve. Taking this step will prevent frozen pipes and plumbing issues upon your return.
Tip #4: Insulate exposed pipes and fixtures. If you have exposed plumbing pipes or fixtures on the exterior of your house, take the time to insulate them before you leave. You can use faucet covers, foam pipe covers, and pipe wrap tape. However, in a pinch even old towels or newspapers can help keep your pipes warm in winter weather.
Tip #5: Leave cabinet doors open. If you have exposed plumbing in cabinets (like under bathroom or kitchen sinks), be sure to leave the cabinet doors open so warm air can easily flow inside and help prevent a plumbing emergency.
Tip #6: Touch up your weather sealing. You should have weather sealing around your windows and doors to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Before leaving for your holiday vacation, check for cold spots around windows and doors. Cold spots indicate that the weather sealing has worn out and needs to be replaced to keep your home’s temperature regulated.
Tip #7: Keep your garage warm. We recommend insulating your garage if your water lines run through it – trust us. This will help prevent a plumbing emergency by preventing pipes from freezing and then bursting.
Tip #8: Don’t forget about your water heater. Water heaters can hold a large amount of water inside of them. If there’s a leak or other plumbing emergency, you can find yourself with a flood on your hands. See if your water heater has a “vacation mode” that you can use while you’re away. If you’re going to be gone for a significant amount of time, you may want a professional to drain your water heater for you.
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Have a plan for your plumbing before you leave town
A few other tips that we recommend for preventing frozen pipes and other plumbing emergencies include:
- Make sure that slow-draining drains in sinks and showers are cleaned out to prevent freezing (as well as awful smells and stagnant water).
- Check your pipes for leaks and other issues before you leave.
- Ask a neighbor to check in on your home periodically to make sure no plumbing issues have developed in your absence.
Contact Superior HVAC today to help prevent a winter plumbing emergency
Have questions or need help getting your home prepped for your absence this holiday season? Contact Superior HVAC and Plumbing today.