Do I Need to Turn Off My Water When I Go on a Long Vacation?

Imagine that you are laying on a sandy beach, slowly sipping a cocktail. And suddenly, a phone call utterly shatters this paradise. Next thing you know, you are dealing with a flooded home, ruined furniture, and a damaged water supply system. And you keep asking yourself: What could I have done to prevent this disaster? The answer is pretty simple: you should have turned off the water.

Turning off water in your house before going on vacation is one of the wisest decisions you can ever make. It can spare you a lot of possible water damage and save you from huge repair expenses caused by a broken pipe.

There are various reasons why shutting off the water is so important and we will explain them in this article.

Why is turning off the water so vital?

Coming back to a flooded home isn’t exactly what you dream of when going on vacation, is it? Such a disaster may have a negative impact not only on your mood but on the state of the wiring, furniture, and electronics in your home. The expenses you will face will likely be exorbitant, even if you have full insurance coverage. And rewiring the entire electrical system and repairing the water supply line can require you to tear up flooring and walls, which will cause further damage and require more repair work to be done.

Taking into consideration everything mentioned above, we are sure you’ll agree that turning the water off in your house is a wise choice that can save you a lot of money, stress, and time. 

And if you feel like simply shutting off water isn’t enough and you will still be worried, there is one more step you can take to prevent flooding, which is emptying your water lines.  

Do I need to empty water lines before going on a vacation?

This task is actually quite simple to accomplish since all you have to do is to turn off the main water supply valve, which can be found inside your house in the spot where the main pipe enters the building. In some houses, the valve is located on the outside where the line connects to the water meter. You can safely leave the rest of the valves open.

Last tip before you leave

A week before leaving the house, schedule a final check-up of your home’s faucets, water supply lines, and carefully search for any visible pipes damage or leaks. Leave yourself ample time to hire a plumber. Don’t forget to tighten loose fittings and make sure other systems work properly.

If you turn off your water at the main supply before leaving, you’ll prevent any unexpected surprises when you return home. Our company will be happy to help you deal with any plumbing issues you may experience. We can even help you find your water supply shut off valve and show you how to properly switch it off! To learn more, call us or send an email right away.

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