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A water leak is your home's archenemy. Don't let that enemy strike while you're traveling. Be your home's hero and take a few preventative steps to stop the villain in its tracks.
Make a Whole House Inspection
Take a look around the house for leaks or potential ones. Look under all sinks for leaking pipes and loose connections. Inspect your toilet tanks and water heater for cracks. Check water supply connections to your dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine.
Turn Off the Water
Shut off your water at the main supply valve. It's often in your basement on the side facing the street, but it may be in your garage or on an outside wall. Once you've turned the water off, turn on all your faucets so the water drains fully from the pipes. Remember to flush the toilet so as much water is drained as possible from there.
Remember the Season
During winter, if there's water left in your toilet bowl, put some non-toxic marine antifreeze in there to keep the water from freezing (which if it did freeze, would ultimately crack your bowl). Keep your heat on to prevent pipes from freezing. Open cabinets under sinks to keep warm air circulating there. Insulate exposed pipes. In summer, the air conditioning needs to stay on to avoid condensation.
Phone a Friend
Ask a trusted friend or relative to check on your house while you're away. If a leak happens despite your preparation, the damage will be limited since your loved one caught it early.
At Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air, we are here for all of your plumbing and heating/cooling needs, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency services. For more information on the services we provide, visit us on the web or give us a call at (901) 795-9044.