It’s no surprise that our summer travel plans are going to look a bit different this year. While it may be too soon to tell how different, chances are you’ll be looking for some kind of adventure.
So no matter what summer trips you’re planning — even if it’s a short road trip to a nearby campsite — you’ll want to make sure you prepare your home for your departure.
How to Prep Your Plumbing Before Vacation
Turn Off Your Water
Taking this step will help prevent leaks, saving you money in the end, and safeguarding any potential damage that could take place in your absence. No one wants to come home to a flooded basement or a catastrophic plumbing mess! Save yourself the aggravation and turn off the main water valve.
Change Your Water Heater Settings
While you’re out — there’s no need to heat your water. Simply change your water heater to the lowest or vacation setting (50℉) to keep your energy bill low. You can even take it to the next step and turn your water heater off completely.
Check Your Sump Pump
Before you leave it’s important to check your sump pump. Taking this step will soothe your anxiety of coming home to a flooded basement. You can test your sump pump by filling it with water until the pump starts up. If the water levels are rising and the pump doesn’t kick on — then you have an issue (most likely a bad switch). If the pump does start, make sure it drains most or all of the water. If you’re having difficulties, call a professional to inspect or repair your sump pump.
Clean Your Garbage Disposal
There’s nothing worse than returning from a soothing vacation to find that your house smells like rotten food. You can easily prevent this by pouring a half-cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow this step by running hot water directly into the drain for about a minute. Then presto! Just like magic, your noses will be spared before and after your return.
If You’re In Need of Professional Help, Contact Us
With the craziness before you leave for vacation, you may not have time to check off all these tasks on this list. If that’s the case, we have you covered! Call Steve’s Plumbing, LLC at (425) 979-7376 to schedule an appointment today!