Are you ready for your Christmas vacation? For many individuals here in the great state of Arizona families will be leaving their homes for the holidays. It certainly is a great time of year as you are able to reunite with distant loved ones or take that needed family vacation.
Spending a few days or weeks away from home during the Holiday season will be likely be a great time so coming home to a home where a pipe has burst or water has leaked somewhere in the home is not a welcome home site anyone would want. Luckily, there a few things that can help you avoid this type of disaster. Here a few of our go to tips for homeowners while they are away for the holidays to best avoid water damage.
Turn Off the Water
This is, very simply, the easiest way for homeowners to avoid water damage while you’re away. Turning off the water may seem like a bit of a hassle, but it can save you from experiencing water damage when you arrive home from your vacation. If you don’t know where your home’s main shut-off valve is, then you may want to call a professional to accomplish the task for you.
Drain the Pipes
If you decided to turn the water off at the main water pipe valve there is one more step you need to be sure to take care of. When the whether gets exceptionally cold, it can cause the water still in those pipes to free which can lead to pressure that can cause your pipes to burst. This can cause serious damage to your home, even if you feel you were protected from turning the water off. Drain the pipes completely after your switch off the main valve.
Keep Your HVAC On
You may be considering switching off your heating and cooling system while your off eating cookies at your families place. The problem, however, is that a buildup of condensation when the air isn't circulating can freeze and cause damage to your home. This may even aid in the growth of mold and mildew. Don't worry about running the system to hot, keeping the home at a mild temperature above 55 can be a good idea while your away.
Clean Out Your Gutters and Downspouts
This may not be exactly how you want to spend your time before going on holiday vacation. It’s a necessary checklist item if you’re going away for an extended period of time, especially during the months of the year where rain and snow are likely here in Arizona. If leaves and debris have clogged up these areas and it rains or snows while you’re not at home, the ensuing water could cause severe damage to your home.
Phone a Friend
While your away from your home during the holidays it is never a bad idea to have a trusted friend or relative check on your home from time to time. Have them check if there are any noticeable leaks, clogged gutters. HVAC issues, etc.
No matter how well you prepare your home for the worse while your gone, water damage can still occur while you’re on vacation. Whenever you find that water damage does occur, you’ll need an expert to help you clean it up and restore your home back to its proper condition.
Contact your local water damage restoration and mold restoration experts at Sunshine Restoration today! We would love to help.