Tips for Preventing Water Damage in Your Absence

1/14/2021 (Permalink)

Water Damage in a Layton, UT home.

Everyone deserves to get away once in a while, but coming back to your home in Layton, UT, after a relaxing trip or holiday to find water damage can ruin the end of a good time. To avoid the need for water pipe repair when you return from your vacation, here are a few tips to follow before you leave.

3 Tips to Prevent Water Damage

1. Inspect

You should be checking your home for potential problems that lead to water damage on a regular basis anyway, but it is especially important before you plan to be away for a while. Make sure none of the hoses or supply lines are leaking. Check for broken shingles on the roof and clogged rain gutters. Test the sump pump in your basement by pouring water in and seeing if it kicks into gear.

2. Maintain

If you find any problems during your inspection, you will want to fix them. Water remediation specialists can mitigate any existing water damage and perform water pipe repair so that secondary problems such as mold growth don't develop in your absence. Clean your gutters, and insulate exposed pipes, especially if your trip takes place during the winter months. Set your thermostat so that your home remains warm so that your pipes don't freeze while you're gone.

3. Drain

Ideally, you have a neighbor, friend or family member who can check on your house periodically. If that's not the case, however, you can still protect your home by cutting off water flow altogether. One way to avoid a broken pipe is to drain all the water out of it before you go. You can also turn off the main water valve to the house. If water isn't flowing to your pipes, your home is less likely to be flooded.

No one wants to come back from vacation to discover that water pipe repair and water mitigation is necessary. By taking these precautions, however, you can relax fully during your trip, knowing your home is safe from water damage.