Holidays are a time to let your hair down, relax and forget about the stresses of everyday life. The last thing anyone wants is to do is return home to a serious plumbing issue. Unfortunately, minor plumbing issues can quickly take a turn for the worse – particularly when left unattended.
Put simply, an empty house is one of the worst environments for a plumbing mishap to occur. Luckily, all it takes is a few simple actions and these fears can be nothing more than an afterthought. The truth is that with a little effort and awareness, many of these steps take no longer than a few minutes to handle.
For your convenience, we have compiled 7 steps to keep the household plumbing in check. Keep reading to learn more.
Switch Off Your Water Supply
Let’s begin with a fundamental safety measure – Switching of your household water supply. This will be of particular importance if you plan on leaving the house for a significant period of time. Turning off the water supply is crucial for a variety of different reasons.
The major motivation for this move relates to your pipes and plumbing fixtures. Should an underlying issue exist, this will prevent instances of burst pipes and leaking taps – of which both can lead to serious property damage.
Of course, this may not always be viable for those with automated sprinkler systems and pool pumps. In this case, you can address it on a one-by-one basis.
Outdoor Water Sources – Drain Faucets & Disconnect Hoses
This next step is often overlooked. If you regularly water the garden or run water systems outdoors, it is important to give the area a quick review before departure. One of the most important parts of this process is to check for any lingering water in your hoses. This can all be resolved by quickly running the various faucets and draining them out – all of which should only take a few minutes.
Another benefit of this approach concerns your water bills. Outdoor faucets (particularly at the point of connection to the hose), can easily leak and will continue until the tap is turned off. These often unseen leaks will then directly translate to costly water bills.
Check Your Drains
Blocked or clogged drains are one of the most common household plumbing issues. Right now you might be thinking “how are my drains an issue if I’ve switched off the water supply?” The answer is as follows – Without a flow of running water, clogged or mucked up drains and pipes can have the tendency to smell.
If you are away from home for an extended amount of time, this smell could engulf the entire kitchen, living area or bathroom – Definitely not a pleasant experience as you renter the home.
In short, it is beneficial to give your drains a quick check over before leaving on holiday. The other alternative is to schedule a visit from a plumber in the local area.
Clear Out Your Sinks
Following on directly from our previous point of emphasis, we now move to the importance of sinks and food disposal. Like drains, unkept sinks can lead to foul odours and the creation of an unsanitary environment that may attract unwanted insects. A simple way to prevent this from occurring is to place an ice-cube near the sinkhole and run cold water. This process should help to clear out any stubborn food scraps, as well as gunk or grime.
Overlooking this issue leaves you vulnerable to a build-up of mildew, mold and other unpleasant problems – none of which are pleasant to face after a relaxing getaway.
Look Out for Leaks
Leaks are not only inconvenient, but they can also run up your water bills. Moreover, if the leak occurs on a larger scale, you may return home to serious property damage and in turn, serious repair costs. It can be to dismiss a minor plumbing issue but it is impossible to ignore it when the problem gets out of hand.
Giving your taps and faucets a once over inspection is a simple task that will pay dividends in the long run. If you have noticed a serious leak, contact a plumber as soon as possible.
Don’t Forget the Gutters
Due to their constant exposure to the elements, household gutters can easily become clogged and damaged. Whether it is a build-up of leaves, debris, branches or dirt and grime, your gutters need to be inspected on a semi-regular basis. Another key factor to look out for is any structural damage to the gutters themselves.
It is important to note that clearing out your gutters can be a dangerous process, particularly if the ground beneath is unstable. For this reason, we recommend that you hand over this duty to fully insured and qualified plumbers. Not only will this keep you and your family safe, but it will also help to achieve the best result possible.
Contact Plumbers in Your Local Area
Beyond a little due diligence, the best way to secure your household plumbing is to get in touch with the professionals. Arranging an inspection from plumbers in your local area is highly beneficial to anyone going on holiday for extended periods of time. In addition, this visit may also identify any areas of concern before they get worse.
Establishing a relationship with a plumber can also help in situations where a friend or relative is housesitting. This way, should something go wrong, they will now have someone to call out to for assistance.
Free Yourself from Worry and Concern
While it can be easy to dismiss these steps and pretend like they aren’t important, the reality is that these actions will save you from serious consequences. In most cases, all that’s required is a few minutes and your property will remain secure and free from plumbing concerns for the entirely of your holiday.
