Fall break is here, and if you’re like a lot of Haddonfield families, you’re packing up the car and heading somewhere warmer for a few days. Before you lock the door, though, let’s talk about your home’s plumbing. After years of fielding “emergency call while on vacation” phone calls, I’ve narrowed it down to four things every homeowner should do before leaving town.
1. Know where your main water shutoff is — and use it.
This is the single biggest thing I recommend. If a supply line lets go while you’re away, the difference between a damp floor and a flooded basement is how fast the water gets shut off. Find your main shutoff valve now, not during an emergency, and consider turning it off before you leave if you won’t have anyone checking the house. We can also install an automatic, WiFi-enabled shutoff valve that monitors your water flow and can shut off your main line the moment it detects a problem — all controllable right from your phone. Reach out to discuss options and pricing.
2. Check your water heater and washing machine hoses.
These are two of the most common sources of surprise leaks. Look for any bulging, cracking, or corrosion on hoses, and make sure connections are snug. If your washing machine hoses are more than five years old, fall break is a great excuse to swap them for braided stainless steel ones. Leak sensors can also be added near your washing machine to catch a problem the moment it starts — and they work together with the automatic shutoff valve as one connected system. Reach out for pricing and options.
3. Set your thermostat smart, not off.
Even in early fall, an unexpected cold snap can catch a house off guard. Don’t turn your heat off completely — keep it around 55 degrees so pipes in exterior walls or unheated spaces stay safe from freezing.
4. Don’t forget your sump pump — and consider a battery backup.
If your home has a sump pump, it’s one of the hardest-working, least-thought-about parts of your plumbing system — until it fails during a storm while you’re away. Before you leave, make sure it’s running properly, and if you don’t already have one, a battery or water-powered backup will keep it operating even if the power goes out. Pair that with leak sensors placed around the pump and basement, and you’ll get an alert on your phone the moment water shows up where it shouldn’t. Systems like Moen Flo tie all of this together — the main shutoff valve, leak sensors, and sump pump monitoring — into one smart system you can check from anywhere. It’s also worth asking a trusted neighbor to do a quick walkthrough every day or two while you’re gone. A second set of eyes can catch a small leak before it becomes a big one — just be sure to give them your plumber’s number too, in case.
None of these steps take more than twenty minutes, but they can save you thousands in water damage and a ruined vacation. Haddonfield is the kind of town where neighbors look out for each other — this is one more way to do that for your own home.
Safe travels, and enjoy your break!
Mike Neel is the owner of M.R. Neel Plumbing, proudly serving Haddonfield and the surrounding communities.
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