Reduce Water Damage Risk While on Vacation

12/4/2019 (Permalink)

A water damage doesn’t make a good gift when returning home from vacation. SERVPRO of Morris/Ottawa gets many calls each year from homeowners returning home from vacation to find water damage in their home. Below are a few tips to help reduce the risk of your home suffering a water damage while you are away on vacation. 

Lower the Thermostat 

Lowering your thermostat to reduce heating costs while you are away is acceptable. However do not turn the heat off, as this could cause water pipe breaks in your home during cold weather. 

Shut off the main water supply to your home

After the main water supply is shut off, run the taps for 5 minutes to release all the water pressure from the pipes. This will prevent a flood in your home if a pipe should break while you are away. 

Shut off certain water valves

If you have a friend or family member checking in on your home and do not want to restrict all water flow in your home, shut off certain water valves. This will help reduce the risk of pipe leaks in your home. 

A few other tips

-Do not shut the power off in the home. Unplugging certain electrical devices is acceptable, however making sure your refrigerator and sump pump keep power are important along with any security system you may have. 

- Make sure your sump pump is functioning properly before leaving. 

- Make sure outside drainage is free of debris and leaves before leaving. If heavy rains occur you want the water to drain properly away from your home. 

If you return home from vacation and find water damage call SERVPRO of Morris/Ottawa professionals right away.