Summer holidays are almost here, and millions of Canadians will be heading on vacation in cottage country and beyond. While planning a holiday is exciting, it can be all-consuming and people can leave the house in a rush.
It’s a common time for people to neglect maintenance issues until they get home, or leave the house without checking for any taps or toilets left running.
In fact, statistics show that nearly a quarter (25 per cent) of Canadian houses need minor repairs, and one area you don’t want to put off before your annual break is plumbing.
According to an expert from Homestars.com, the reliable way to hire a pro, returning from holiday to a plumbing disaster is, unfortunately, a commonplace occurrence and in most cases can be avoided by following a few simple tips.
Common plumbing issues that are made much worse by absence include burst or clogged pipes, leaking toilets, or dripping showers. While these concerns are urgent even when you are at home, if they’re left for days — or even weeks — they can become serious issues that can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home.
Colleen McGrory from Homestars.com, said completing a series of checks before you leave can prevent certain issues from occurring, and will only take a short amount of time.
“Going on vacation is meant to be a relaxing experience, and the last thing you need is to return to a big leak or plumbing disaster. The issue with plumbing is that a concern that’s initially minor can cause many serious problems if it’s not resolved quickly.
“While some problems can’t be foreseen, there are many checks you can make before you go away to minimise the chance of water damage. Checking for leaks, making sure your taps and shower heads are all fully switched off, and ensuring no drains are blocked are all easy and quick steps to take.
“Ultimately, the safest way to ensure you won’t come back to any plumbing disasters is to switch your water off, so that’s worth considering, especially if you are going away for several weeks.”
Here is Homestars.com’s essential pre-holiday plumbing checklist:
Check for drain blockage
Drains are more likely to block during the summer, often due to them being used more frequently for cold showers and the filling of paddling and swimming pools. To spot that your drain may be blocked, keep an eye out for foul smells, resurfacing water, showers/sinks/toilets draining more slowly, and gurgling sounds when running a tap or flushing a toilet. If you notice any of these signs, sort them out immediately. Failure to get a plumber to fix your drains could result in damp and mould on the interiors of your home, pest invasion and health risks, alongside heavy costs to repair the damage.
Switch off your washing machine and dishwasher
It’s essential to switch off these types of appliances while you’re away, as any problems with leaking could present not only a mess, but a fire risk. Let them run before ensuring all water has drained out, air them out if possible, then switch them off. Leave the doors open so they can dry, which will prevent mould and mildew building up before your return.
Check your toilets
Before you go away, check your toilets for leaks. Your toilet may have a leak if water is trickling at the back, there is moisture on the surrounding floor or around the base, or there is condensation on nearby pipes. If you notice any of these flags, sort the problem out immediately. Failure to get a plumber to fix a leak could waste hundreds of dollars worth of water, and could also cause significant damage to the surrounding floor and walls.
Check for leaks and cracks
Radiators are a common source of leaks. Leaks from a radiator, water running down from a radiator, damp or discoloured patches in your ceiling, walls or your floor are obvious signs of a plumbing issue (e.g. a damaged valve) that needs immediate fixing. This could become a serious issue, as water in your walls or ceilings could eventually lead to weakening and caving in. Always call a plumber if you notice this problem; don’t leave it while you go away!
Switch off your water supply
Ultimately, water leaks are one of the most common disasters that a homeowner can return to after vacation. That’s why it’s important to switch off your main water supply. Typically, you will locate your main shut-off valve under your kitchen sink. You will need to turn it clockwise to switch your water supply off. This step is the surest way to prevent leaks, bursts and flooding, which will damage your home.
Give a key to a trusted person to access your house
If you’re going away for a week or more, it may make sense to ask a friend or neighbour to do a quick check on your home. If a problem is found, then they can call a tradesperson to fix it and repair any damage, which would hopefully be minimal if the home has been regularly checked.
Take care when you get back home
When you get home, you’ll want to return your home to service-as-usual. If you’ve switched your water off, there are a few things to be aware of. After you turn your valve counter-clockwise to get it back on, your taps may not start running right away. That is because the water will need to run through your pipes again, so it may take a few minutes before everything returns to normal. Be prepared for your taps to splutter for a few minutes at first. Let them run for a few minutes anyway to make sure any debris is cleared out through the taps.
