It's a homeowner's nightmare scenario: Returning from a vacation or even just a weekend getaway to find your house inundated by catastrophic water damage. A quarter-inch crack in a water supply line releases more than 250 gallons in only a few hours. Imagine the potential damage if you're away from home and leakage continues for days. As time elapses, water soaks deep into the structure, permanently deteriorating building materials. Possessions are ruined, toxic mold contamination is triggered.
Clearly, preventing water damage while you're away is preferable to all other options. Here are three ways to ensure that your homecoming doesn't include a distressing surprise.
Maintain The Plumbing
Don't ignore early warning signs of failing pipes such as dripping beneath sinks and other fixtures, or in the basement or crawl space. Water heater ruptures are also another common source of water damage due to internal corrosion. Leakage from the tank is often a red flag of impending rupture. These issues should be resolved by a plumber.
Rubber hoses connecting the washing machine to hot and cold faucets behind the unit are prone to sudden failure and frequently implicated in severe home water damage. Replace rubber hoses with braided stainless steel lines that are more resilient and last longer.
Prevent Freezing
Indoor water supply lines can freeze and rupture during winter, particularly in a frigid, unoccupied house. If you're going away, set the furnace thermostat to 60 degrees day and night while you're gone. Open cabinets and closets to allow warm air to circulate into wall spaces where pipes are routed. If you have exposed supply lines in the crawl space or attic, consider installing pipe insulation to prevent freezing.
Turn Off The Water
For the most definitive water damage prevention, turning off all water to the house is a good idea. Locate the main water shutoff valve. If you don't know, a plumber can show you where it is and also make sure you have the correct tool to operate it. Test the valve now, to verify it turns easily. If it's difficult to turn, don't force it—consult a plumber.
