Going on vacation can be one of the best parts of summer, but returning to your San Jose home to find it filled with water is not a good way to end a fun-filled trip. While you can’t account for problems like municipal water main leaks, there’s still plenty you can do to prevent problems. Fortunately, we’re here to help with some tips for preparing your plumbing for holiday!
Preventing a Plumbing Emergency
It’s important that you check the various plumbing outlets in your home before heading out on vacation. Although there is still always a tiny chance that something could go wrong, the odds are high that using a bit of forethought can keep your San Jose home safe and dry. If you do notice a potential problem, be sure to alert our professional plumbing team at Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter for assistance.
Turn Off Your Main Water Supply
Whenever you’re planning to be away from your San Jose home for an extended period of time, it’s always best to turn off your main water supply. That way, you can ensure that there will be no water leaks while you’re gone. If you’re not sure how to do this, have one of our plumbers take care of it for you. It might not seem like something that’s necessary, but you’ll definitely regret it if you come home and find your basement or bathroom flooded.
Make Sure Your Toilet’s Valve Is Properly Sealed
Even if your toilet’s valve has never given you any issues, it’s still a wise idea to double-check that it’s properly sealed. Over time, your flapper valve can get hung up, which will prevent it from either achieving a proper seal or closing altogether. Once this happens, the water will run constantly as it attempts to fill up the tank.
If you’re at home when something like this happens, you’ll be notified immediately by the noise. If you’re not, though, it could keep running for days or even weeks. Not only will this cause your water bill to spike, but it’s also terrible for the environment. Therefore, be sure to check your toilet valve so that you don’t come home to a nasty little surprise.
If you notice that something has gone wrong with your valve, it’s a good idea to reach out to our San Jose plumbing company. That way, we can check out the entire toilet to make certain that there are no bigger problems lying in wait.
Schedule Someone to Check Your San Jose Home
You may not want to go so far as to have a house sitter, but it’s definitely wise to have one of your friends stop by on a regular basis. Rather than having them simply water your plants and check your mail, though, you’ll want to make sure they check your plumbing as well.
Asking them to take a walk through your house to look for any indicator of a leak is a great start, but ensure you also have them check beneath the sink in your kitchen and bathroom. A leak could occur in either place and go unnoticed for several days. Don’t allow yourself to come home to discover that your cabinet is ruined.
Be Sure to Turn Off Your Water Heater
When you shut off your main water valve, did you also make sure that your water heater was turned off? This is a must because it will still warm up, regardless of whether it has water in it. If this happens to you, you’ll almost certainly come home to a damaged heating element. That could end up costing you a significant amount of money to fix, and it will also leave you without any hot water.
Another reason you should turn your water heater off is to reduce your energy bill. When water is in the tank and the heater is left on, it will ensure that the water stays properly heated. However, you don’t need this to happen when you’re on vacation, so it will just be a waste of money.
Having an expert plumber check your water heater is the best way to have true peace of mind. They can make sure it’s properly turned off, along with checking out the water heater’s general condition. It would be much better to repair any problems they discover before they begin to impact your water heater’s operation.
Test Out Your Sump Pump
San Jose may not have a very deep water table, but it’s still best to verify that your sump pump is in proper working order before going on vacation. After all, your sump pump is vital to prevent flooding and expel any excess water. San Jose and the Greater Silicon Valley area actually have a relatively high risk of flooding when it rains. The last thing you want is to arrive back home to find the entire lowest level of your house inundated.
You’ll want to bring in a plumbing company like ours to help verify that your sump pump is working properly. Be sure to schedule the visit your property a few days before you’re set to leave.
Drain Your Lines and Pipes of Water
After your main water supply has been shut off, don’t forget to drain your pipes and lines of any leftover water. This can help you in two different ways. First, if it happens to be winter, it will prevent ice from forming. Secondly, it’s the best way to keep bad odors at bay. Otherwise, stagnant water will develop, and this can cause damage and bacteria to form.
Clear Downspouts and Gutters
This one is frequently forgotten, but it’s also really important. Always ensure that your downspouts and gutters are clean unless you want to take the risk of dealing with a blockage or clog that can end up causing a major leak. Developing a roof leak as a result of forgetting to take this vital step could potentially end up costing you thousands of dollars.
Run Your Garbage Disposal
Something else that most people forget is to run their garbage disposal before going on a trip. This will help you verify that there are no plumbing issues, and it will also ensure that your house doesn’t end up smelling of decomposing food particles.
Check Every Drain
Finally, check your drains for any debris or blockage. You can usually fix minor issues yourself with a plunger or some vinegar. For nastier clogs, though, enlist a professional.
San Jose’s Plumbing Experts
Residents of San Jose CA and the Silicon Valley can turn to us at Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter whenever they need plumbing assistance. Our expert team provides 24/7 emergency plumbing repairs. We also offer sewer services, rooter services, and gas services for your convenience. Our field advisor has been working in the industry for more than 20 years!
We’ll make sure your plumbing needs are all taken care of so that you can relax and enjoy your next vacation. Contact us at Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter when it’s time for your next trip!
