A holiday is one of the best ways to have a long break and move out of a monotonous routine. But before you book your holiday, there are certain things you would have to do to ensure your home is safe and no problems will arise in your absence; plumbing checks should be high on the list. The experts at Wilco Plumbing have put together a list of some essential plumbing priorities before you leave on your trip.

• Make sure that you turn off your main water supply. Most often, leakages can occur when you aren’t at home. The main valve should be situated at the wall closest to your home’s water meter; completely turn it in a clockwise direction.
• Open all of the taps and faucets in your home, as this will help drain as much water as possible from supply pipes in your home in case any leaks occur. It reduces the risk of water damage from a broken fixture/pipe when you’re away from home, even for a few days.
• Set the water heater to vacation mode: This will keep it operating at a much lower level than usual. If your holiday lasts more than a few days, you may want to switch off the water heater altogether before leaving.
• If you have a swimming pool, it’s best not to turn the pool pump off as it can cause algae build-up. Instead, keep it running at the optimal settings, and request a friend check on your collection to ensure it functions correctly. In case of extended vacations, it may be a good idea to drain the water from the pool completely.
• The sprinkler system is generally on a separate meter, and you can leave this line open even when the main supply to your house is turned off.
• Clean out the drains and garbage disposals. When you regularly run the faucets, they help in keeping your gutters clear. However, when you stop doing this, the leftover moisture and clogs in the pipes and drains can lead to unpleasant odours in the lines, or Blocked Drains can be very difficult to remedy.
• If you are on holiday for a longer time, consider requesting a relative or friend to come by to run the water at least once a month to keep the plumbing in good condition.
• It’s a good idea to hire the services of a licensed plumber to inspect the entire system and rule out the possibility of any plumbing problems; so you can have them fixed before you leave.