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Turn off water to the house before leaving?

Richjoxyz

By Richjoxyz,
in Ask a Cruise Question

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SadieN

SadieN

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As we were getting ready to leave on the last cruise, my DW was getting into the vehicle in the garage and said "Wait, I forgot to unplug the washer".

 

 

 

She went back into the house, unplugged the washer and dryer, and turned off the water lines to the washer as I waited for her in the garage.

 

 

 

Imagine my "glee" when we returned home 7 days later and found that she didn't unplug the dryer... She unplugged the washer AND OUR FREEZER!

 

 

 

I spent the rest of my vacation cleaning out and disposing of a freezer load of spoiled meat and then trying to eliminate the stomach-wrenching smells that went along with it.

 

 

 

Yay me...

 

 

Bet the freezer plug is clearly labeled now?

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CRocks

CRocks

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We live on a farm so we always cut off the well when we are gone.

 

Same here! We live out in the country + elect is our only power source. Outages are frequent which means no heat. So, a broken water line would cause the pump to run continually until you returned. An ABSOLUTE MUST out in the country!

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bumorgan

bumorgan

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we unplugged everything and of course, it didn't record anything. Now we know - unplug the TV, computer, etc. but not the cable box!

 

We just did that ourselves. Unplugged the entertainment center and left for the cruise. My wife says the first day of the cruise " Do you realize we won't see any taped shows while we're gone". We had a good laugh at my expense.:):D

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Drazil65

Drazil65

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We always turn water off and unplug what we can. I too have heard horror stories from friends and relatives that incurred significant water damage when the hot water tank or pipe burst while they were away. Not worth the hassle as it would be well over a week before it was discovered.

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pirate4me2 "Live from...." Rare

pirate4me2

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We don't turn anything off as one of the daughter either checks on the cats frequently or stays at the house.

 

What I do that I can't imagine anyone else does is tape the freezer shut. When left alone for extended periods of time I have a cat forgets his manners. He jumps from the top of the fridge to the crows nest above the cabinets. In the process his hind feet kick the freezer door open. We returned from a weekend trip to find defrosted freezer. So now when we leave for overnight the tape is in place. FYI, it is an almost new refrigerator so the seal is good. The monster cat weighs in at almost 20 pounds so he has a powerful kick.

Oh my! My mom has a giant Maine Coon (probably about 20+ lbs as well) who luckily has not discovered that trick! If he did her freezer would be empty I'm sure between FuzzWuzz and her Rottie, Fat Albert.

As we were getting ready to leave on the last cruise, my DW was getting into the vehicle in the garage and said "Wait, I forgot to unplug the washer".

 

She went back into the house, unplugged the washer and dryer, and turned off the water lines to the washer as I waited for her in the garage.

 

Imagine my "glee" when we returned home 7 days later and found that she didn't unplug the dryer... She unplugged the washer AND OUR FREEZER!

 

I spent the rest of my vacation cleaning out and disposing of a freezer load of spoiled meat and then trying to eliminate the stomach-wrenching smells that went along with it.

 

Yay me...

Ha-ha oh my, that sounds like something I would accidentally do!

 

Sent from my XT1585 using Forums mobile app

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Namelocg

Namelocg

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If you are going to leave the water and electricity on for a pet sitter that comes in once or twice a day make sure you leave an extra key hidden somewhere OUTSIDE. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from my best friend saying she lost my house key. Yup, that's right, I got a call from Florida while I was in ALASKA. Do you know how hard and expensive it is to get an after hours locksmith to change the front door lock for someone that does not live in the house and the owner is more than 3000 miles Away? I do!

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coevan

coevan

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When cruising in the winter we turn off the water, turn down the temperature in the house, unplug unnecessary appliances, tape shut the fridge and freezer (just to be sure), and turn off all lights but our one front hall light.

 

One thing to remember - we have a PVR in our cable box (we can set it so it records our favourite TV programs). The first trip after we got it, we unplugged everything and of course, it didn't record anything. Now we know - unplug the TV, computer, etc. but not the cable box!

 

Tape the fridge and freezer shut, that's a new one, a little OCD?

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Jackie81

Jackie81

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I'm so fortunate, my Mother in love comes over and stays with her...wait for it... grand-dog. lol. (Her words, not mine.) So we don't have to turn anything off. However, if we didn't have her, and had to put our puppy in a doggy daycare or something, then we'd definitely shut off the water, turn the heat or A/C off and make sure everything is unplugged.

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Cruisin' Chick

Cruisin' Chick

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Our neighbors once had an upstairs toilet break while they were out of town. very inconvenient for them to fix it as the downstairs got totally flooded and everything had to be replaced.

 

we did return from a cruise and found our laundry room had flooded from a major rainstorm that caused a flood outside and the water came into the house there. But fortunately, the water didn't enter the den so just the flooring in one room had to be replaced.

 

My hubby does turn off the water to the house when we're leaving for more than a few days. we also locked the garage (at least one car is parked on the driveway with nothing visible to attract robbers). our extra car keys get hidden. any plants get moved outside in a shady spot. Our neighbors get our itinerary with my cell phone number (and we get theirs when they go out of town). Mail gets held at the post office. fortunately the coldest it gets around here during winter would be in the teens at night.

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fatpaul

fatpaul

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today is Dec 11 and our home furnace has once kicked in once. yea Florida panhandle. We turn off our pump buy 2 gals of bottle water per day for our pep minder to use. We not only turn off water heater, we drain the heater to remove the built up crap inside (Only once a year). You really need to unplug any fairly new electronic devices such as TVs, pc, printer- they use electric in the background. Summer months we set the ac to keep the house dry. Our cocker spaniel just lays on the pool first step to stay cool and our basset hound is too lazy to care.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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navybankerteacher

navybankerteacher

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Oh heck yes!!!

 

About 20 years ago our friend's water connection to the refrigerator broke and they had over a foot of water on the main floor of their house and in the basement. They estimated that it probably burst the day they left. $100,000+ in damage.

 

I always turn off the water from the well, turn the water heater to vacation mode (in the event we lose heat it won't freeze the water heater and it is electronic ignition.) Also release the pressure on the system by flushing a toilet or running water for a couple of minutes.

 

If you live in northern climates and cruise in the Winter, leave the furnace on and don't turn it below 60F if you live in an area where sub-zero temps are possible.

 

Take care,

Mike

 

If you are seriously concerned about freezing conditions, it is not enough to just turn off the water. You need to drain the pipes - including those in your hot water heater.

You also should add alcohol to your toilet tank and then flush to ensure that the water in the toilet trap does not freeze

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MCC retired

MCC retired

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We turn off the water and the water heater when leaving for more than a few days now.

We don't have a freezing concern in FL but with so many flexible hose connections within the house ( washer , refrigerator , dishwasher , water filters , etc. ) they are common connections that can fail, and flood.

Happened once to us fortunately on the day we returned .

 

 

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Pudgesmom

Pudgesmom

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We always have our dogs at home. Water is needed for them as well as the sprinkler system. We don't want to come home to dead lawn and plants. Usually in the summer, water needs to be added to the pool at least once a week due to evaporation.

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cb at sea

cb at sea

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If NO ONE will be home,....turn off the water. Not a big deal...there's a "turn off" valve in your home somewhere.

 

If someone will be there...leave the water on, but turn off the water valve at the washing machine.....or whoever water is on all the time.

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