Water Damage Prevention Checklist: Before You Go on Vacation

6/6/2019 (Permalink)

Vacation Water Damage

There's nothing worse than returning to your Palo Alto, Redwood City, Atherton, or Menlo Park home from a relaxing vacation to a water and mold. You may find soggy wood flooring, moldy drywall and carpets. It's the perfect way to ruin a vacation that you just took.

But if you just take a few precautions BEFORE you go, you can avert a potentially major catastrophe and save money in water damage restoration and mold remediation and removal. You simply turn off all the relevant water valves in your home, before you go away.

A good tip is to have a friend perform an occasional walk-through of your home in your absence.

Check out this water prevention checklist from your friends at SERVPRO of Palo Alto.

Water Damage Prevention Checklist

• Check Water Supply Lines on Household Appliances

  Some of the most common causes of residential water damage can be attributed to faulty household appliances like washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers. Check all the relevant water supply lines to ensure that there are no breaks or leaks.

• Check Plumbing

  Inspect all the pipes in your home, especially those located under the sink(s) for evidence of leaks. If you find any leaks, no matter how small, call a plumber to quickly and efficiently rectify the problem. If there are no leaks, turn off any relevant water valves throughout the house such as those relevant to your sink(s), toilet(s) and bathtub(s).

• Bonus Tip:

  Depending on the season, you may want to leave the cupboards open to encourage and maintain pipes at ambient temperature, thereby preventing possible freezing and bursting of pipes. 

• Turn off the Main Water Supply Valve

  Alternatively, you can turn off the main water supply valve to your home, so as to discontinue the flow of any water through your pipes in your absence.

• Note:

  It is imperative the every adult member of your household knows where the main water supply valve is located in your home, because water damage mishaps can occur at anytime, even when your home is occupied. Should that ever happen, knowing where the main water supply valve is will make the difference all the difference in the magnitude of potential water damage to your home.

• Unplug electronic devices and household appliances

  In an effort to prevent a short in the electric circuit of your home, (should there be water intrusion in your absence), unplug electronic devices like computers, printers, televisions as well as household appliances like washers, dryers, and dishwashers. Do not unplug the refrigerator unless you decide to empty it out.

• Fire Hazards

  Address any potential fire hazards, before you go! Don’t leave flammable items in your home, especially during the summer months, because if there should be a fire, your indoor sprinkler may become activated, thereby leading to water damage and subsequent mold infestation.

• Put the water heater in vacation mode

  When you put the water heater in vacation mode, the water inside the pipes is maintained at ambient temperature, thereby drastically minimizing the chance that the pipes might freeze and possibly burst.

• Make sure the gutters are clean

  Clogged and/or damaged gutters and downspouts act as a potential gateway for water intrusion into your home while you are away.

• Inspect your windows

  Paying extra attention to any sky-windows, check the seals around your windows in your home. Caulk if necessary.

• Roof Shingles

  Finally, be mindful of the fact that damaged roof shingles have the tendency to serve as a significant point of entry for water intrusion into your home. Therefore, if you spot any damage, arrange to have it repaired, before you go!

If you do happen to experience water damage, call SERVPRO of Palo Alto at (650) 800-3448. We will make it "Like it never even happened."