Preventing Water Damage While You’re on Vacation

Summer is the perfect time to get away from it all and enjoy a relaxing vacation with family and friends. Unfortunately, it can also be the perfect time for your home to experience water damage without you knowing it. Here are a few easy things you can do before you head out of town this summer to ensure that your home stays safe and dry while you’re away.

Do a Careful Inspection Before you Leave

Take a few minutes to check pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, and pipes in your basement, for cracks or leaks. Then check your hot water heater for cracks or rust, and look out for any signs of roof leaks. Also note any major indications of wear to hoses connecting to your dishwasher, refrigerator and washing machines. Taking care of any issues you may find preemptively will keep unexpected problems from arising after you leave your house.

Clean Out your Gutters and Downspouts

Clogged gutters, drains, or downspouts can lead to water pooling on your roof or around your foundation, and could potentially cause water damage in your home’s crawl space or basement. Removing debris from these areas will help water move down and away from your home. Also be sure your downspouts are discharging water at a minimum of 10 feet from your house for effective drainage. Summers in the Southeast are notorious for unpredictable and sometimes torrential storms and downpours, so making sure this sudden onset of rainwater can flow freely away from your home is imperative.

Have a Friend Do Daily Check-Ins

If you’re able, find a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to check on your home daily, especially if you plan to be away for an extended period of time. If your home does happen to have a leak or other water issue, catching it early can be the key to preventing water damage that could potentially become extensive and expensive.

Turn Off your Water Supply

It’s a good idea to consider turning off your water supply in some fashion before you leave for an extended period. You can turn off the water supply to your entire home by shutting off your main water valve, and you can check to see if you’ve done this properly by testing to see if a sink works after you’ve shut it off. If you’d rather leave your main water supply on for reasons like plant watering or irrigation systems, instead turn off water supply to specific sources that generally cause the most water damage, such as toilets, icemakers, and washing machines. This can be done easily by turning the valves off beside each source. Taking the step to turn off or regulate your water supply is another great way to keep your home dry and free from water damage.

Taking the precautions mentioned above can be a proactive way to protect your house from water issues while you’re away, but unfortunately accidents can still happen. If you find yourself in a situation where you need help with water damage, clean up and repair, Thompson Brothers is here to help. We’re no strangers to summer moisture damage, and our team of experts can remedy any water damage issue you may have so that you can spend your next summer vacation feeling relaxed, refreshed, and worry free!

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