While You’re Away – Tips to keep your home safe while you travel

2018-06-22
By: Denise Koslowsky

It’s summer, time for sun and fun and vacations!  With all the prepping and planning and packing it is easy to miss one very important thing…ensuring your home is protected from water damage.

Water is high on our list of things that go bump in the night.  People underestimate the power water has to wreak havoc on your home. According to our friends at Chubb, water damage makes up 45% of all interior property damage.  That is more than damage caused by fire or burglary.

That is the bad news.  The good news is that 93% of all water damage is preventable. In fact, your plumbing supply system is the #1 cause of non-weather water loss, again thank you Chubb.  We want to help you keep your home dry while you are away so below are a few tips to help you safeguard your home while you travel.

• Do a little mini inspection of your water / waste lines to make sure the hoses are in good condition and without leaks or cracks. If you see any issues, call in a plumber for help and if hoses need to be replaced, make sure that you invest in high-quality stainless steel.
• Take a look at the area surrounding your water heater, if you notice any puddles, call a plumber.  Keep in mind that the average life-span of a water heater is 7 – 10 years.
• Inspect any appliances that use water to operate such as washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators to be sure there are no leaks.  It is a good idea to replace supply hoses periodically.
• Try shutting off the water supply line valves (next to your toilets) to be sure they are still mobile.  Hard water can sometimes freeze pipes so it is important not to force things if you can’t get them to budge.  If there are issues, call in a professional to have them replaced and it might be smart to invest in a whole house water purification system.
• If you are going to be away for more than a week, shut off your main water valve before you leave.  When you return, be sure to turn it on slowly so you don’t overwhelm your system.
• Even when you take the above precautions, a water leak can still occur.  That is why smart technology that monitors your home for leaks is invaluable.  There are two different types of whole-house water control technology:  sensor-based systems and flow based systems.  If you want to read more about how these new technology solutions are adding a new level of home protection, click here to read our blog on the subject.

If you have concerns about protecting your home from water damage, we would be happy to tell you all about the discounts you may qualify for when you install a whole-house water shut-off system.  Give us a call at 914-723-7100.  If you want more information about how to protect your home from water damage, Chubb has some awesome resources like this one and this one.