Plumbing advice · Seasonal & Prevention
Going Away? The Plumbing Checklist Before You Leave
Five minutes at the door that prevents coming home to a swimming pool.
The one that matters most
Turn the stopcock off. An empty house with the mains off cannot flood, whatever fails while you are away. For trips over a week, open a tap afterwards to drop the pressure in the pipes.
In winter
Heating stays on low, 12 to 15 degrees, not off. Frost damage to an unheated house costs more than a fortnight of gentle heating every time. If the house will be empty for months, drain the system down properly instead.
Worth two extra minutes
Washing machine valves off (hoses fail at full pressure), dishwasher too, and a neighbour with a key plus our number on the fridge. The difference between a drip and a disaster is usually how many days nobody noticed.
Need it done instead?