Protect Your Home from Flooding Over the Holidays

As the weather turns miserable, many Canadians are looking to spend a couple weeks in sunnier pastures. But even if your holidays are only taking you to Edmonton (or elsewhere in Canada) instead of some faraway beach, it’s a good idea to safeguard your home against flooding while you’re away!

Cool, but Not Too Cold.

When Calgarians pack up the car to go on vacation for a week or four, many of us turn down the thermostat. It just makes sense; gas is expensive and nobody’s home. However, people aren’t the only ones that need heat. If you have any house plants, you’ll need to keep the house to stay at least 10-12°C, and your plumbing system needs your home to above freezing at all times. At Plumbing Paramedics, we recommend never letting your home fall below 10-12°C even if you don’t have plants. Remember, if pets are staying home (with a pet sitter checking in of course!), you’ll need to keep things warmer. Long haired dogs are comfortable with 16 – 18°C, but cats and short haired dogs will prefer 18 – 21°C.

Ask for Help.

If you have a cat that needs to be fed or plants that need to be watered, you probably already have a neighbour or friend checking on the house. But even if there aren’t any pets at home, it’s still a good idea to have someone pop into the house once a day. First of all, having a vehicle arrive and leave, lights turned on and off, and footsteps through the snow will signal that someone is at home, lowering your risk of crime. Secondly, if something goes wrong — like a burst pipe or a leaking hot water tank — you’ll have someone you trust to seek help right away.

Plan Ahead!

One of the best ways to protect your home from floods and water damage is think ahead and invest in prevention. An annual hot water tank inspection from a trusted Calgary plumber will ensure that everything is running optimally, so you can enjoy your holidays with peace of mind. If you have other concerns — a leaky faucet or running toilet, have your plumber take a look at it after the inspection. They’ll either fix it right away or give you the answers you need to comfortably put it off until you get back home.

Are you heading away for a week or more? It’s a good idea to have a trusted Calgary plumber take a look at your water heater before you leave. Our experts can even inspect your furnace at the same time, so you can be certain that everything is running smoothly while you’re away. Call us today, to schedule a hot water tank inspection for before you leave.