Turning off the water to your house is an excellent insurance policy against water damage. This may sound like the kind of busy work that you might find on an overprotective homeowners checklist but when you consider how much damage a leaky pipe or appliance can cause it is time well spent. All it requires is knowing where the main shut-off valve is located, usually either near the water meter or in the basement, and closing it whenever you are going to be away from home for any length of time. Once it’s done, any problems that may occur while you are away will be minor compared to the flood that could be waiting for you upon your return. Some homeowners will turn off the water to every individual appliance and fixture in the house but merely shutting off the main water valve is just as effective and takes far less time.
Here are some reasons why you should turn off the water to your home before leaving on vacation.
Water Heater
It isn’t a question of if your water heater will fail but when. While you are away on that once in a lifetime vacation, isn’t the ideal time for it to happen. By shutting off the water, you can, at least, minimize the damage. Rather than a waterfall, the leak will be confined to only the amount of water in the tank, which is typically fifty gallons. You’ll still have some water damage but nothing on the order of the catastrophe that you would otherwise be facing. Some water heaters do have a “vacation mode” setting which will drop the water temperature while you are away but that does nothing to mitigate flooding.
Leaky Or Broken Pipes
Leaks are relatively easy to catch when you’re at home but if you are going to be gone for a couple of weeks even a minor leak could be big trouble. Again, the idea is minimizing the amount of water that is available if something leaks or fails. If you live in a colder climate and are planning to be gone for a few days turning off the water is standard procedure since a burst pipe could leave your home a disaster area. Draining your pipes is also a good idea when leaving your home empty for an extended winter trip.
Appliances
Leaking appliance hoses are a major source of water damage. This is normally the result of leaking hoses. Unless you regularly inspect and replace your appliance hoses, you probably have no idea what kind of condition the hoses on your dishwasher, washing machine or refrigerator are in. Replacing rubber hoses with more resilient steel hoses is one of the best ways you can protect your home from appliance leaks and the havoc they can cause. Just like leaky pipes and failing hot water heaters, there’s never a good time for a water hose to break but when you are away from home is the absolutely worst time for it to happen. Shutting off the main water valve won’t prevent a hose failure but it will limit the damage.