Summer time in Florida means vacations, or even extended absences in many cases. When leaving your home for an extend amount of time, it’s important to prep your plumbing system prior to leaving. Prepping your plumbing system before your next vacation can help to prevent plumbing emergencies while you’re away, as well as any unexpected surprises when you return from your vacation. Here are our tips.
- Locate the main water valve and turn it off, but prior to turning it off, go to the furthest toilet from the valve, and flush it. This should flush the home of all the water.
- Check for potential leaks before you leave. This includes checking sinks, bath tubs and showers, toilets, and outdoor hoses. If you do notice any leaks, fix them, or have a professional plumber such as Wyman Plumbing come fix them.
- Aside from not wanting to come home to any water damage, no one wants to come home to a nasty smell, prepare your garbage disposal before you leave. Make sure there is no food or debris left inside. You don’t want to attract any pests or roaches. Clean the disposal with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, then coat it with a teaspoon of olive oil afterwards.
- Check the water heater for signs of rust, corrosion and leaks. Finally, turn off the power to the water heater. Once the power is off, drain the water heater so it is empty. Once it is totally empty, open the relief valve so the valve is left in the upwards position. Not only will this prevent potential problems, it’ll save money on your utility bill too!
We want you to feel safe while you’re away on vacation, your plumbing is the last thing you should have to worry about. If you do find any leaks while doing your plumbing inspection, Wyman Plumbing wants to be your first call. We can help you with all of your plumbing needs.