Many who normally travel to or winter in the U.S. are rethinking their options. Some are also changing plans for the holiday season to stay home, do day trips, and/or entertain at home.
If traveling, more people are going to Europe, Mexico, and South America instead of the U.S. Some have come up with innovative solutions, such as taking a lengthy cruise rather than spending the winter in Florida. Another Muskoka area couple is spending the holidays and winter months in Southern Ontario instead of travelling to the U.S.
Whatever your plans, if you’re leaving your residence for any length of time, some things need to be put in place.
Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. advises contacting your insurance company before leaving on vacation to find out what their requirements are.
Travel Prep for your Home
Make sure your plumbing is okay before you leave. Leave the heat on and turn the water off at the main water valve. When turning the water back on again, remember to run it until it’s clear.
In other home travel prep, check around all of your fixtures – toilets, taps, shower, washing machine, and hot water tank. Water on the floor could indicate a leak. Turn off the hot water tank if away for a long period of time.
Check the water lines for any wetness. Feel for wetness at any of the joints, particularly with older flexible plumbing, such as Poly-B piping, as well as ‘push-and-turn’ fittings and joints.
Some leaks may be hidden – check your toilet, place a few drops of food dye, coffee, or tea in the back of the toilet tank, and wait 20-30 minutes without flushing. If coloured water appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet flapper is letting water into the toilet bowl, and it will need to be replaced.
Do a floor test by walking around barefoot or check with your hands. Damp or cold spots could indicate a leak under the floor. Hidden leaks could result in higher-than-normal water bills, depending on how bad it is and how long it has been going on.
Entertaining over the holiday season?
For a trouble-free holiday entertaining, check your plumbing and fix any potential problems, such as a dripping tap or slow-moving clogged drain. Certain measures will need to be put in place if you’re expecting a big crowd of friends and family.
As more people use the washroom facilities, be aware that too much toilet paper can clog the toilet. Try to keep it to a minimum amount of toilet paper going down the drain to lessen the possibility of it becoming plugged.
Also, make sure non-flushable items such as wipes, makeup remover pads, and dental floss are placed in the garbage, not the toilet.
With all of the holiday baking, cooking, and entertaining at this time of year, make sure that none of the cooking fat goes into the drain. Cold drains cause fats to solidify and clog.
Add a drain screen to the kitchen sink to catch any bits of food and other debris before it becomes a problem. Accumulate all of it and place it in the green bin or garbage, depending on the accepted waste stream.
If you live in the country or plan on spending Christmas at the cottage, schedule a pump out of the septic system, if needed. A septic system needs to be pumped out regularly to make sure it is functioning properly. How often depends on the number of people in the household and whether it is used as a seasonal cottage or permanent residence.
For all your plumbing needs, call Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. at 705-722-7209.
