As we prepare for the holidays a lot of families will find themselves traveling to see loved ones. One horrible way to end a vacation is to return home to a flooded house or burst pipes. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure that your home stays protected from pipe floods while you’re away.

1. Always make sure that you keep your heat on. While it may be tempting to turn that thermostat off and save a few bucks on the power or gas bill, don’t. Those few bucks may end up costing you in the long run if your pipes burst while you’re away. Not only can this cause flooding, but if the water sits for very long unattended you can create bigger, more expensive problems with the mold that follows. Keep that thermostat set to at least 50 degrees to prevent frozen pipes.
2. Turning off and draining your water system may be a better option for you than keeping the heat on, but make sure to inspect the pipes for damage before you turn the water back on.
3. Insulating your pipes before the weather turns can also help prevent damage, the more insulation you have, the less likely they are to freeze. Especially in an attic or unfinished basement where the pipes are exposed.
4. Leave cabinet doors open where there are pipes running through so that they can stay warm while you’re away. These pipes are not normally insulated and the heat in the home will have an easier time getting to the pipes if the cabinet door is open.

If you have pipes that are already frozen, make sure to leave the faucet open and go call a plumber. If your pipes have burst, make sure and turn your water off and give us a call, we’ll take good care of you!