The One Thing Homeowners Forget To Do Before Leaving For Vacation

Oftentimes, it can feel like going on vacation involves a lot of extra work. Not only will you do your best to make sure you have everything packed, but you might also need to make arrangements for your pets, get rid of any food that might spoil in the fridge, and ensure your home security is in working order. Before you head out the door for that much-needed getaway, though, you may need to check one last important thing off your to-do list. This involves turning off the water to your home, which is a task many homeowners overlook before leaving for vacation.

Leaving the water on is just one of the many crucial mistakes to avoid when leaving your home for a vacation. Any home with running water has the potential to experience problems with pipes, including small leaks or large bursts. What's more, pipes may be more vulnerable to bursting in freezing temperatures. Appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, can also leak and cause problems. Such scenarios are bad enough while you are home, but if water problems occur while you are on vacation and then continue for several days (or even weeks), you could face significant damage when you return. What's worse, you might have to pay for many of the repairs out of your own pocket, even with homeowner's insurance.

As a rule of thumb, experts recommend that you always turn off the water to your home when you go away on vacation, no matter the length of your trip. Turning the water off for an overnight or weekend getaway might seem like overkill, but doing so could save you a great deal of time, money, and stress from potential water damage to your home. To turn off the water, you will first need to locate the main shutoff valve. This may be located outside your home, in the basement, or by the water meter. Turn the wheel clockwise if you have a gate valve, or turn the handle one turn clockwise if it is a ball valve. Go back indoors and turn on all the faucets in your home to empty the pipes of any water left behind. This is also a good test to determine that you properly turned off the main water valve.

Ideally, you should determine how to turn off the water to your home ahead of time. This way, you aren't trying to figure out this process when you are trying to catch a plane, train, or car ride to your destination. The process takes just a few minutes, and it is one you can share with the entire family so they know how to turn the water off in case of emergencies, too. It's also a good idea to check for leaking faucets, toilets, appliances, or any other sources of water leaks in your home that could be repaired ahead of your vacation.