You look forward to your summer vacation all year, carefully choosing the destination, hotel, and travel arrangements. Before you leave your home, you cancel the mail and newspaper, find someone to take care of your pets, and make sure all the doors are locked and bolted.

But what about your plumbing? If you don’t take the time to check on your drains, faucets, appliances, and other things related to your home’s plumbing before you embark on your getaway, you could be in for a flooded house or another nasty surprise when you get home. Here’s a checklist of a few things to do to make sure you’re ready to go:

Turn Off Your Main Water Valve

If you have a pipe burst or utility leak while you’re away and your main water valve is on, water will continue to run, which will waste water and money while possibly damaging your home. Turning the main valve off will prevent the water from spewing if something goes wrong, and will also prevent water theft.

Depending on how long you’ll be away, you may need to make arrangements with a friend or neighbor to take care of your home, including watering your plants and other tasks that require water. In this case, show your house-sitter where the main water valve is so that they can turn it on to use water and turn it off when they’re done with the chores you’ve entrusted to them.  

Turn Off Your Sprinklers

After shutting off your main water valve, check to see if your sprinklers are turned off, too. Some sprinkler systems have a separate shutoff valve, in which case your main water valve won’t shut off your sprinkler system.  

Check for Leaks

Leaks from your faucets and pipes might not seem like a big deal, but over time they can add up and increase your water bill. By finding and stopping leaks before you leave the house, you’ll minimize your expenses.

Change Your Water Heater Setting

Most water heaters have a low setting, sometimes called a “vacation setting,” that reduces energy use. Or, you can turn your water heater off entirely. While you’re at it, check for corrosion, the first indication of a water heater leak.

If you’re unsure of how to do any of these things, call the experts Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Ocean City. We can help you with all your plumbing needs all year long, not just when you’re leaving for a vacation. For more information, contact us today.