Your home’s plumbing can be easily overlooked when you leave your house unoccupied for a period of time. If something goes wrong while you’re away, your vacation memories can easily turn into living nightmares.

Unattended plumbing is just one of the reasons why homes are ten times more likely to be damaged by water than fire.

So, to make sure your home doesn’t become part of that statistic, here are five simple plumbing tips that will ensure you don’t return to a watery mess.

1. Turn off the main shut-off valve to your plumbing system. If you can’t turn off the main valve, shut off individual valves under sinks, behind toilets, your refrigerator and the washing machine.

2. It’s always a good idea to turn off your water heater before going on vacation.  All water heaters have a shut off water valve attached to the tank.  Turning it to the off position could prevent a big water spill, the kind that can result from a tank fail during your absence. Turning the heater down or off is another good idea.  Why heat water when not home?

3. Add some water and a drain maintenance product to your drains before you leave. This will keep them semi-wet and prevent them from developing an unpleasant odor.

4. Do a visual inspection of all appliances that have plumbing (refrigerator, washing machine, hot water heater) to make sure nothing is wet or corroded.

5. Have someone come to your house while you’re gone and walk around – inside and out – to keep an eye out for water leaks and other signs of trouble.

Has it been a more since you’ve had a whole-house plumbing inspection? Then scheduling one before vacation will allow you to enjoy your time away with greater peace of mind. If nothing’s wrong, you’ll know that for sure. And if there’s an item or two should require further attention, the professionals at Boden will advise you whether immediate attention is required or if the issue can wait until you return. Safe travels this summer or anytime at all.