The Smiths basked in a tropical vacation as they awaited spring’s arrival. Toasty sand warmed their toes and fruity drinks flowed. The weather? Sheer perfection. Then a call from home chilled the mood: a water pipe had burst, flooding their entire house in Chateauguay. As the shocked housesitter opened the front door to find it raining inside, a soaked ceiling panel crashed down in front of her, mere moments before she stepped under it.
“The Smiths forfeited the remainder of their pre-paid, non-refundable vacation and immediately returned home on expensive, last-minute airline flights,” says Jason Blair, President of Paul Davis Restoration Sud Ouest/Rive Sud, Quebec. “They were comparatively lucky, though: the housesitter had not been injured, so medical bills weren’t added to the tally.”
A few simple preparation steps ahead of departure, Blair advises, would likely have prevented the disaster. The bottom line: your home - and your peace of mind – will thank you for checking off several key action items before you leave.
- Shut off the water supply. It may take some detective work to locate, but every home is equipped with a valve that halts all water flow into the structure. Turn that valve to the off position before you depart. Not only does this prevent pipe bursts from ruining your home, it usually saves a few dollars on water bills, too.
- Reset thermostats. Raise the thermostat ahead of summer absences and lower it ahead of winter departures. This also economizes on HVAC expenditures while you are away. Many homeowners also lower water heater settings as well.
- Make your home look occupied. Protect your home from theft and break-ins by stopping mail and holding deliveries. Set light timers on staggered schedules to approximate your usual living rhythms: light living areas during early evenings and bedrooms later at night. Don’t draw shades and curtains if you don’t normally do so while at home.
- Set alerts. Consider installing monitoring systems that will contact you or a caretaker if systems like HVACs and sump pumps quit unexpectedly. These affordable and widely available tools work seamlessly with cell phones for notification.
- Notify trusted neighbours and services. Advise close friends of your vacation schedules and ask them to survey the premises regularly, looking for anything that might be amiss. Mail holds aren’t foolproof and deliveries can be unanticipated; trusted visitors can pick up and reserve these items for you. If you subscribe to an alarm company, advise the service of your travel dates.
“Finally, don’t leave signs to burglars advertising your absence. An outdoor light burning day and night is a giveaway,” Blair cautions. “And lock doors and windows on your way out. So many excited people forget this step. We’ve even heard of homeowners leaving the door standing wide open!”
Grappling with property damage? Paul Davis Restoration is standing by to help at any hour, any day of the year.