One of the best parts about owning a vacation home is having somewhere to go to get away from it all whenever you want. One of the biggest downsides of owning a vacation home is making sure that it stays in great shape year round, whether you are there or not. Keep your vacation home water-damage free this winter by following the three steps outlined below.
Check Your Roof & Gutters
The first thing you should do is arrange to have your roof inspected or inspect your roof yourself. When you are on your roof, keep an eye out for missing or loose shingles. If you spot any, make sure that you have them replaced.
Next, make sure that you clean out your gutters. If your gutters are clogged with debris, they could easily get backed up during a strong storm and overflow. That is an easy and quick way to sustain water damage.
While you are cleaning your gutters, make sure that they are all fastened properly to your home and that none of them are loose. If they are, have them secured.
Insulate All Your Pipes
If the plumbing pipes in your home are not insulated, insulate them yourself or pay someone to do so. Insulating your pipes is a relatively easy task. All you have to do is purchase insulation from your local hardware store, wrap it around your pipes, and tape them in place.
This will help ensure that your pipes do not freeze and burst during the winter. That could easily lead to water damage while you are away.
Make Sure Your Sump Pump Is Ready
If you have a basement, make sure that your sump pump is set up and is still in good working order. If your basement were to flood for any reason, your sump pump should kick in and pump the water out.
Turn Off All Water Sources
Before you lock up your vacation home for the winter, turn off all the water sources if possible.
- Turn your water heater either to vacation mode or turn it off. You don't need it heating up water when you are not there.
- Turn off the main water valve to your house. If you are unable to turn off the main water valve for some reason, turn off all the water valves to your major appliances such as your washing machine and your dish washer. You can also turn off the water to all of your faucets as well.
- If your vacation home has a well, turn off the pump to the well. That way, you can be sure no water will be getting into your home.
Pay Someone To Check On Your Home
Finally, even with the best preparation, you can't plan for everything. Pay someone to check in on your home every few weeks and make sure that everything is okay. Or ask a friend or neighbor who lives in the area to check in on your home.
If you take the steps above, you should be able to save yourself from a water related disaster at your vacation home this winter. Contact a business, such as Servpro Of South Elkhart Co, for more information.
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