How can you make sure that your summer vacation isn’t spoiled by flood and water damage? No one wants to end a vacation with calls to the insurance company and costly home repairs.
Before leaving town for an extended period of time, turn off the water supply valve to the water heater. Leaking water heaters can result in major damage to your home, especially when you are away for several days. A water heater tank can fail at any time. We recommend that every water heater be installed in an aluminum drain pan with discharge piping that extends to the exterior. In some homes it is not possible to install a discharge pipe to the exterior. In this case, Levy & Son recommends the installation of a safety valve installed in the drain pan that will automatically shut off the water supply to the heater if less than 1” of water is detected in the pan.
To help protect from a washing machine flood, we recommend installing new braided stainless steel water supply hoses. Many hoses that are in place today are a basic flexible rubber hose subjected to constant water pressure, often at more than 70 psi. Over time, the hoses deteriorate and eventually fail. Replacing these hoses every 5 years will help avoid costly damage to your home.
A flood can happen anytime however, by taking a few precautions you can reduce the risk and possibly limit the damage. Check your water heater and washing machine on a regular basis. Since some leaks begin slowly and go unnoticed due to their location, it may be best to have an expert from Levy & Son take a look. Contact us today!
Tags: leaks during vacation, Levy and Son Plumbing, plumbing repair, washing machine leaks, water heater leaks