Summer is upon us and for many families that means summer vacations. While leaving town for vacation is certainly an exciting time, it can also come with some anxiety about leaving your home and belongings unattended. For many homeowners the biggest fear when leaving is theft. While theft is certainly something to think about, it’s also important to think about the plumbing in your home.
Plumbing problems can cause thousands of dollars in damage when gone unnoticed. There are a few common types of plumbing disasters, but the majority of them are caused by busted water lines.
Here are some simple tips from your plumber in Springfield Missouri to help prevent plumbing disasters while you are away:
- Locate the main water shut off in your home and turn off the water supply to your home any time you are away for extended periods of time. If you need help locating your water shut off, contact your friends at United Plumbing. We are always happy to help. Some homes don’t have a whole home shut off. If you are living in a home without a main water shut off, we strongly encourage you to have one installed. This is helpful not only when you are on vacation, but also later if a water leak presents itself when you are home. Knowing where your water shut off is and how quickly you can access it can potentially save you thousands of dollars in damage should a problem arise.
- When you turn your water back on upon returning home, it is important if you have older galvanized pipes to bleed out the air in your water lines through an outdoor hose bib to prevent sediment from clogging up the fixtures in your home. To do this, simply turn the water back on at the shut-off valve and then immediately go to your hose bib and turn it to the on position. Let your outdoor faucet run until you can hear that all of the air has passed through the lines.
- If your home has a sump system, it’s important to check your sump pump to ensure it is properly functioning before leaving town. This is especially important if rain is in the forecast. You can test your pump in two ways. First, you can simply unplug the pump and plug it back in. It should kick on right away when plugged back in. Second, you can dump a bucket of water in your sump pit. You only need enough water to slightly raise the float until the pump kicks on.
At United Plumbing, we are here to help with all your plumbing needs. If you find that you are in need of a plumber, don’t hesitate to call (417) 891-9777.