Preparing Your Plumbing System for Your Summer Vacation

As outdoor temperatures begin to rise and the amount of sunshine increases during the summer months, many homeowners plan family vacations that allow them to take advantage of the good weather. While a summer vacation can be a great way to escape the stress of daily life, the last thing you want to do is come home and discover a plumbing disaster.

Taking the time to prepare your home's plumbing system for your summer vacation will help you avoid serious plumbing problems while you are away. Here are three simple things that you can do to prevent plumbing problems during your summer getaway.

In the event that a water leak occurs or a sudden rainstorm saturates the ground with moisture, you want to ensure that your home's sump pump is prepared to safely move excess water away from your home's foundation in order to prevent serious damage.

You won't be on site to check the function of your sump pump while you are away on vacation, so installing a backup system can be a beneficial way to ensure your pump will be able to efficiently protect your home from water damage.

Working with a plumbing contractor to install a battery-powered backup system ensures that your sump pump will remain functional even if there is a power outage while you are away from home enjoying your summer vacation.

Small leaks can turn into major problems when left unaddressed over time. If any of your pipes or plumbing fixtures are leaking, they could potentially burst at any time. You don't want these mishaps to occur while you are away from home, so it's important that you take the time to conduct a thorough inspection of your home's plumbing system for signs of leaks before you embark on your next summer vacation.

Check all of the exposed pipes in your home for leaks by feeling along the exterior surfaces for moisture. You can also wipe some liquid dish soap diluted in water along the surface of the pipes and watch for bubbling to identify leaks. Take the time to check around your hot water heater's tank and your outdoor air conditioning unit for puddles of water as well.

Any minor leaks that you discover during your inspection should be repaired by an experienced plumbing contractor before you leave your home to go on vacation.

Eliminating the water supply to certain plumbing fixtures within your home will help to prevent catastrophic damage in the event these fixtures spring a leak or a pipe bursts while you are away from home.

You can close the valves leading to toilets, sinks, showers, and kitchen appliances individually to prevent water from flowing into these fixtures if you need to keep your home's main water supply on to supply a sprinkling system or other vital plumbing system. If you don't need to water your grass while you are away, it can be beneficial to shut off your main valve to prevent any water from reaching your home's plumbing system.

Closing valves will help you prevent a plumbing disaster by reducing the amount of water available to leak out into your home while you are enjoying your summer vacation.

Ensuring that your home is protected from serious plumbing damage while you are traveling will give you the peace of mind you need to relax while you are away on a summer vacation. Contact the professionals at Michigan Plumbing for help in preparing your home's plumbing systems for your next summer getaway.