Don't Come Home to Water Damage After Vacation

1/12/2018 (Permalink)

The last thing that should be on your mind when you’re on a vacation away from Amarillo, Tx is whether a broken pipe has caused an area of your home to flood. This can cause damage to your belongings and your home, so the best thing to do is to prevent the need for water pipe repair.

Prevent Burst Pipes

Broken pipes can be difficult to fix, and the damage can be costly. It’s best to keep this issue from ever happening. If you’re traveling out of town for an extended period of time, specifically during the winter, there are several steps you can take to prevent your home from being flooded:

• Don’t turn down the heat too far. If you keep the heat on, even if you turn it lower than if you were home, it can keep your pipes warm enough to prevent them from freezing.

• Keep the water running. You don’t have to run the water on full. If you allow the faucet to drip, this helps relieve the pressure in your water system, possibly eliminating water pipe repair.

• Wrap the pipes. If you wrap pipes, especially those that are exposed, with towels or blankets, it provides extra insulation against the elements.

Keep an Eye on Your Home From a Distance

If you’re going to be gone for several days, especially during the coldest parts of winter, it’s not a bad idea to have a neighbor, family member or friend stop by the house once in a while. This can be just a quick peek inside to verify there is no flooding or a broken pipe, or checking the thermostat to make sure plenty of warm air is circulating in your empty home.

You can also use video cameras that you can view from your phone or computer to check on your home. This won’t prevent a pipe from bursting, but it can allow you to at least get a professional there to do a water pipe repair sooner and prevent further damage.