Planning and packing for vacation is fun and hectic. In the hustle and bustle, make sure to take care of a few things in and around the house to maintain safety and cleanliness. Unplugging appliances, adjusting the furnace and water heater thermostats, and setting alarms are important, and so are the useful tips that follow.
Shutting Down Any Water Source
Before leaving your home for an extended period of time for a vacation, for example, there are a few extremely crucial steps to take so you aren’t returning home to a mess or a costly disaster. When you are home, having the main water valve on is an obvious must so water can go where it needs to go throughout your home. However, when you are gone you will want to shut off your main water valve in the case of a leaking or broken pipe, since you won’t be there to react to an issue that arises. Failure to shut off the main valve could leave you with a flooded house or worse when you return if something were to go wrong. Another good preparation tip to act on is making sure that no outdoor water is left on such as a sprinkler system for example. A drip all day for several weeks adds up to a large amount of wasted water. The first step is to always be sure that all the water is turned off.
Tending To Indoor And Outdoor Pumps
The next step for ensuring the efficiency of your home inside and out while you are away is checking on any pumps such as sump pumps and pool pumps as a couple examples. Ensuring that your sump pump in the basement works is very important for guaranteeing that your basement won’t flood. If the gutters fail and allow water to come in the basement, a sump pump will save you from a lot of water damage. To check the sump pump simply dump some water in the pump pit so it raises the water level, then see if it ejects the water correctly. If it fails then you could try to solve the issue or contact a professional for help before leaving. Another pump that should be left on is the swimming pool pump. By turning it off for long periods of time, algae build-up can occur so always set it at the optimal operating setting for long term efficiency.
Preventing The Build Up Of Mold And Bacteria
Lastly on the list of preparation steps for a lengthy vacation is eliminating the chance for the buildup of mold, bacteria, and other unsanitary substances. Always clean dirty dishes and unload the dishwasher so bacteria can’t develop on food covered dirty dishes. Next, you should check the refrigerator and freezer for foods that have a short expiration date and either consume before leaving or properly dispose of them before departure so they can’t rot and form mold. Rotting foods for a period of time will become unsanitary and leave very unpleasant long lasting odors. Properly following these three tips will greatly improve the condition of your home when you return and also decrease the chance of a catastrophe happening that could cost you a fortune. If you have any further questions or concerns on preparation actions or simply general plumbing issues, contact a professional that offers plumbing upgrades in DC.