If you plan on vacationing before summer hits, or just want to take a “spring break”, there are some things that you should take care of before leaving your home. This winter consisted of very cold temperatures, which led to frozen and burst pipes. Even though the temperatures won’t be as cold as they were, plumbing issues can definitely still occur when you would at least expect it, so you should prepare now.
Here are some tips to follow that will help you avoid plumbing problems while you’re out of town.

1) Did you know that the life expectancy of a laundry machine hose is only about 3 years? If you’ve had your hoses for more than 3 years, you will definitely want to check them before you leave. Inspect them for cracks, or calcium deposit build up.
2) Leave your heat on in your home. Even though it is warming up outside, the nights are still a bit chilly. If your heat is set to 60 degrees or higher, it will prevent any of your pipes from freezing and bursting while you are gone.
3) Take the time to inspect your water heater. If you see any water on the floor before you leave, it could be a sign that your water heater needs to be replaced or repaired. If you inspect it and there isn’t a leak, you may just want to turn off your water heater or put the system in “vacation mode” if possible.
4) Make sure that your sump pump is working efficiently and effectively. Also, you want to make sure that you have some sort of backup in case of a power outage.

5) Give your drains some TLC before you leave; pour some drain cleaner down your drain prior to leaving for vacation. If you neglect them, you may come home to a foul odor coming from the drain system. It’s also a good idea to run your water and garbage disposal system a couple of times so that any food particles can go down correctly.
6) If you plan to be gone for more than a couple of weeks, you may want to consider shutting off your main water valve. If you decide to do this, no water will enter your home. Make sure that you open your faucets and drain the water out before you leave.
7) Have a designated friend or family member check up on your property once a week to make sure that everything is good at your home. You’ll also want to provide this person with emergency contact numbers in case of an emergency (including your plumber!).