Keep Homes Dry Whether Hosting or Traveling  

Gathering together to share delicious holiday meals and catch up with family and friends should be as happy and stress-free as possible. Regardless of whether you open your home as a host or leave your residence to travel to a family gathering, emotions and expectations run high. Respecting traditions while welcoming new faces, and delighting--or despairing--in the evolving attitudes of maturing youngsters or aging relatives is already an effort during holiday celebrations. Imagine adding devastating water leaks and flooding damage to the festive chaos, either in the midst of the festivities or as a horrific surprise when you return home. Fortunately, AdvantaClean has some tips to minimize your risk of flooding as an unasked for holiday surprise. 

Flood Proof the Holiday Home Base 

If you are hosting this year's holiday, give yourself peace of mind by inspecting for and responding to common water and flood damage risks in the days or preferably weeks before welcoming the holiday crowd. Completing the following routine autumn chores helps eliminate the chances that your holidays will flood out. We also list flood risk prevention strategies that target the increased use of the facilities by house and dinner guests as sensible precautions. 

  • Roof, gutter, and downspout inspection, repair, and upgrades--including clearing of leaves and debris, ensuring the ground slopes away from your foundation, and consideration of drain tile and/or sump pump installation– can help limit storm-related flooding risks. 
  • Weatherproofing plumbing lines on exterior walls and unheated spaces helps prevent frozen and fractured pipes. 
  • Inspection of plumbing supply lines throughout your house--arranging for replacement or repair of even minor seepage--avoids surprise leaks.
  • Ensuring the tub and shower surrounds have proper caulking and that the shower curtains/doors close well can avoid unintended and damaging spray and seepage from extra or exuberant use by your guests. 
  • Evaluation of plumbing waste lines, perhaps scheduling drain cleaning if sinks or tubs drain slowly, prevents surprise backups.  
  • Assessment to find and respond to problems with water-using, producing, or managing appliances eliminates unanticipated and catastrophic flooding: 
  • Cracked, loose, or broken hoses and struggling pumps (for example, dish or clothes washers) need replacement or repair. 
  • Clogged AC or refrigerator/freezer drains require cleaning and their drain pans must be emptied.  
  • Aged or weakened tanks on water heaters or water conditioners might signal that an investment in a new unit is unavoidable--pricey, perhaps, but not as expensive as it would be when added to water or flood damage restoration costs.  

Protect Your Home for an Undramatic Return 

If you skip the hosting for a ride by plane, train, or personal automobile, it is crucial that you put a few key safeguards in place before securing your home for your absence. All of the above hints help prevent water and flood damage while you are gone. They also make it much more likely that the rest of the fall and winter will be dry and comfortable when you return to your residence. We suggest a few more strategies to increase your confidence that your home will survive your holiday roaming with no water damage issues. 

  • Have a neighbor or friend check on your property, particularly if there was stormy weather. You can be prepared ahead of time if an unfortunate issue occurred. 
  • Shut off the water to your home at the main valve--to avoid frozen pipes if the weather gets cold. Be sure to drain the pipes by opening faucets throughout your house after you throw the shut-off lever. 
  • If you have a fire damage prevention sprinkler system, a pool pump, or a similar system that requires you to keep the water on, shut off the water valves to your large appliances, sinks, and toilets. 
  • Continue running your HVAC system at a modified temperature to control humidity, prevent pipe freezing, and avoid unwanted condensation.  

For advice or services related to holiday water damage call AdvantaClean at (877) 800-2382. We are always eager to share our expertise for homeowners' benefits.

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