Summer is a perfect time for many families to head out on vacation. The nicer weather and summer break for kids means that more people find the time to leave their Memphis and midsouth homes in Mississippi and Arkansas for an adventure—whether visiting family members, heading to a favorite beach, or checking out a new location, summer 2022 holds something for everyone now that pandemic restrictions are over. In fact, nearly 85% of people living in the East South Central region of the country—including Tennessee—plan to travel somewhere this summer, and around the US, 80% of adults plan some kind of trip.
But as much fun as a vacation trip can be, most are glad to reach the familiar comfort of their homes at the end of it. Coming back to a space you love can be a welcome relief—or, at least, a consolation for those who don’t want the fun to end. But returning to find an unexpected problem in your home—especially water damage in your kitchen or bathroom—can turn that feeling of Home Sweet Home into a major headache. If this happens to you, The Tub Pros can offer solutions to get you back on track and your kitchen and bathroom fixed up, better than ever.
But before you leave and lock up the house to begin your summer fun, there are steps you can take to keep your home clean and safe while you’re away. Here, we’ll break down how to prevent water damage while you’re on vacation, and let you know more about how The Tub Pros can help if you come home to an unexpected disaster. .
Why would water damage happen when I’m away?
Houses are made to be lived in. You might not even notice all the little tasks you do each day, which get buried in other household chores. When you go to put something away under the sink, for instance, you would most likely notice if your pipes are leaking and water has started to drip—but, a little upkeep task like this could potentially go unnoticed if it happened way in the back and your cabinet is full of bottles and items covering up the floor area. Alternatively, you would notice very quickly if a gutter malfunctioned bringing water in from under a door and into the house, or if water started coming in through a window during a rainstorm.
But while you’re away on vacation, there’s not someone making all those real-time observations. That means that if something goes wrong, water has more time to run, which means it can make more of a mess and cause more damage. It’s not that your being away makes damage more likely to happen—just that it means that you won’t find and deal with a problem as quickly.
How can I prevent water damage?
There are steps you can take to keep your home safe, though. One major step is to ask a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor to look in on your house while you’re gone to make sure there are no big issues. This is especially easy if you have a pet-sitter coming in to take care of any furry friends while you’re away—they’ll probably notice any immediate problems. Having someone around to make sure that no surprises pop up can help keep your home safe, and can deter burglars, too, by making the house look occupied.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent water damage is to turn off your main water valve to cut off the water pressure and stop all water from flowing into your house during the time you’re gone. This knob may be located in a variety of places around the house—sometimes in a basement or crawl space. If you don’t know where it is, a quick search or scan of any old home inspection report on your property will probably help you find it. After you turn off the main water valve, turn the faucets on in the house, to let the water drain out. Just remember that when you return, follow proper procedures to turn the water back on. Turn on a faucet on your home’s highest floor—no water should come out—and then turn the main water valve back on, slowly.
If you can’t shut off the main water valve—for example, if a pet-sitter or plant-sitter will need access to water—you can still keep your home safe. You can sometimes turn off the water supply to individual appliances, like the dishwasher, washing machine, automatic ice maker, or hot water tank. And before you leave, check the supply lines to those appliances to see if there are cracks or damage to the lines—plastic or rubber lines can crack when they’re old, and leave you with a water leak. Also keep an eye on your appliances before you go—be especially attentive to any damage, leaks, odd sounds, or other signs of trouble.
You should also check windows and doors to make sure they’re sealing properly, and to make sure there aren’t cracks or damage to the seals. You can also make sure that your gutters are freshly cleaned before you go—this can help to prevent an overflow that can end up damaging your home. And if you have a sump pump, make sure that it’s running properly before you head out.
How can The Tub Pros help me?
Coming home to damage is no fun—and neither is coming back to a space that makes you stressed, unhappy, or frustrated. A dated kitchen, a bathtub that never looks clean because of stains or cracks, or a countertop with scratches, chips, or burns can drag down the appearance of your home and make you want to avoid it.
That’s where we come in. At The Tub Pros, we’re proud to be the leading refinishing service in the Mid-South, and help people around the Greater Memphis area love their kitchens and baths again. We’re here to make your home beautiful and functional again, without the price of a full remodel. When you want to turn your bathroom remodel ideas into reality, for example, we can provide bathtub refinishing in the color of your choice, which can give your bathroom the modern look of the summer bathroom trends 2022 has brought in. In the kitchen, counter refinishing and repair, including faux-granite or faux marble countertops, can make your kitchen remodel ideas simple, quick, and affordable.
If you have come home from a vacation wondering “where can I find sink, tile, tub, countertop repair, or even Corian countertop repair near me”, turn to The Tub Pros—give us a call at (901) 871-8827 or use our online contact form for a FREE project estimate to get started on repairs today. Our services include repairs to tub, tile, sink, countertops, shower, and safety and accessibility features for the kitchen and bathroom. Additional free value added information can be found in our website article library.
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