Pre-Vacation Plumbing Checklist

For Rochestarians who tend to spend the long winter cooped up, winter vacations, spring breaks, and summer vacations are exciting to look forward to. Most packing checklists include passports, flip-flops, and sunscreen, but did you know that you should include a plumbing check to that list? Making sure the house is in order before heading out for a week or more is usually the last thing on anyone’s mind, but it should be a top priority.

To avoid a major plumbing catastrophe while on vacation, make a plumbing checklist with these points. If you are heading out for vacation this winter, contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Rochester to learn more about plumbing winterization services!

#1 Shut Off the Water Supply

Shutting off the water supply is a great preventative measure when leaving for vacation. One turn of a knob could save you from a house flood if any of your plumbing fixtures were to fail. This will minimize the amount of water that will leak into your home, saving you a huge mess and additional cleanup costs. If you need water supplied to areas like a pool or sprinkler, you can simply turn off the water supply to certain fixtures like the toilet, sink, and washing machine. If you don’t know how to find or turn off the water supply in your home, watch this how-to video.

#2 Test the Sump Pump

Just because you’re off enjoying beautiful weather on vacation doesn’t mean that the weather won’t turn foul back home. A good downpour of rain could spell disaster for your home if your sump pump decides to fail. Test the sump pump by dumping a bucket of water into the sump pit and monitor that your pump turns on and flushes that water out. Also, make sure you have a battery backup pump in case the power goes out! Some sump pumps have alerts when they fail that can notify the homeowner via text or phone call. Consider having one of these installed if you travel frequently.

#3 Check Your Water Heater

Having a professional plumber assess your water heater is the best way to prep. They can detect faults or leaks within the water heater and get them fixed up before you leave. If you don’t have time for an inspection, you can drain, turn off, or switch the water heater to vacation mode to save on energy costs and prevent a flood if the water heater breaks.

#4 Clean Drains & Gutters

Clogged drains and gutters leave no exit route for water, so be sure to clean those out before an unexpected leak occurs. Make sure your gutters are leaf free and that there is a proper area for water runoff. Be sure to clean out your drains to avoid nasty odors accumulating while you’re gone.

#5 Phone a Friend for a House Check-Up

Regardless of all the preventative measures you take, an unexpected plumbing emergency can still happen. Before you leave for vacation, designate a friend, family member, or neighbor to pay your house regular visits so they can catch any mishaps. It also doesn’t hurt to leave them a number for your go-to plumber! For plumbing emergencies, you can reach Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Rochester.

Make Plumbing a Priority on Your Vacation Checklist

You can follow the above steps to ensure your plumbing is up to date or contact a licensed plumber to perform a plumbing inspection for you. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Rochester can perform inspections, emergency repairs, and winterization services for those heading out for vacation during the winter months.

It’s much better to be safe than sorry! Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Rochester today!