Why you should shut off your water when you leave town for vacation

pipe-break-in-home

Why Should You Shut of Your Water When on Vacation?

With the start of summer and the end of school, many of you are thinking about summer vacation. Before you leave for some relaxation, you should turn off the water to your home to avoid common plumbing disasters.

Here’s the Deal:

Unless you turn off the water coming into your home, water sits in the pipes, waiting to be used by faucets, toilets and water-using appliances. If any of those lines fail from age, wear, corrosion or breaks, water will flow out at normal pressure just as if a faucet had been turned on. It will continue to pour out until the water is completely shut off.

It Gets Worse:

We have seen many homes where this happens while homeowners are out of town. It can cause serious water damage. You can easily avoid these top five common plumbing disasters by turning off the water in your home before you leave town.

Reasons to Shut of Water During Vacation

1. Broken toilet water supply line or washing machine hoses

Even when you’re not home, water is running through your house. Sometimes a water pipe fails at the toilet or washing machine and causes water to pour out.  If you are not home, this can cause major flooding and severe water damage.

2. Water heater leaks

If you have a tank water heater, there is the potential for your water heater to leak because it stores water. If your water heater leaks while you’re away from home, you could come home to a flooded garage or area where your water heater is. It is also a good idea to lower the temperature to save energy that would be wasted heating water you’re not using.

3. Broken swamp cooler water lines

This time of year, many people have their swamp cooler up and running. Even when it is not on, water sits in the pipes, ready to move through the cooler when the pump is turned on. If for some reason a pipe breaks, the water will leak out. Most swamp coolers are on the roof or in an attic space. A leak in either location can cause extensive damage, especially if you’re not home to catch it.

4. Broken sprinkler lines

A broken pipe in your sprinkler system also causes unexpected water to flow everywhere. Again, the main water needs to be shut off to stop the water from flooding your yard. The last thing you want is to come home from vacation to find your yard under water.

5. Faucets and other water lines in your home:

The water issues mentioned above are the most common problem areas. However, you have water pipes going to multiple locations in your home. If these water supply lines are corroded, they can leak or break. Water will flow like an open faucet and damage your house and belongings.

You May Be Wondering:

How do you keep these disasters from your spoiling your vacation? Simply turn off the water supply to your home. It is easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Just locate the main shutoff in your home. If you are having trouble finding it, you can ask a professional plumber to help you locate it. You can also call the city of Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, and they can shut off the water to your home.

Home Automation Options:

There are also new advancements in technology that can make it is easier to avoid these problems! A licensed plumber can install a device on your water pressure valves that alerts you via your phone if the water pressure suddenly rises. Some of these devices even allow you to shut the water off from your smartphone. If you would like to learn more about these automation products, you can ask our technicians. They can help you decide if one of these devices is a good option for you and your family.

The bottom line is that, once you know where the water shutoff in your home is located, it is easy to turn off your water. It takes just a few minutes to do before you leave on vacation and can save you unexpected frustration or water damage. Turn off your water and enjoy peace of mind while you are on vacation.