The worst water damage often happens when nobody is home. A supply line splits on day two of a trip and runs until you return. A drain pan fills and overflows into a ceiling. By the time anyone sees it, a small leak has become a large cleanup.
Most of this is preventable with a few minutes of preparation. The steps below apply to snowbirds, vacationers and anyone who leaves the house for more than a few days.
Shut off the main water
The simplest protection is to close the main shutoff before you leave. With the main closed, a failed supply line cannot flood the house. Make sure you know where the shutoff is, and test it so you know it works.
If you have an irrigation system, an ice maker or a water softener, check how they are affected. Some need a supply line to keep working, so ask your plumber how to shut them down safely.
Add leak detection
Water sensors
Place battery sensors under sinks, behind toilets and next to the water heater and washer.
Smart shutoff valves
Automatic valves close the main when a sensor reports water.
Flow monitors
Monitors detect unusual flow and send alerts to your phone.
Neighbor or house sitter
Ask someone to check the house and know whom to call.
Prepare the air conditioner
Do not turn the air conditioner off in a Florida summer. Humidity can build inside a closed house and encourage mold. Set the thermostat to a moderate temperature, check that the condensate line is clear and consider a float switch that shuts the system down if the drain pan fills.
See AC leak water damage for what happens when drain lines clog.
Check the water heater and appliances
- Turn the water heater to vacation mode or off if the manufacturer allows it.
- Check hoses on washers and dishwashers for bulges or cracks.
- Replace old rubber washing machine hoses with braided lines.
- Look under sinks for dampness and corrosion.
- Empty the refrigerator ice bin if you shut off the water.
- Clear gutters and downspouts before you leave.
If a heater fails while you are away, water heater leak cleanup explains what comes next.
Prepare for storm season
The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay lists the wet season as May 25 through October 10, and hurricane season overlaps it. Before you leave in that window, move valuables off floors, secure outdoor items and ask a neighbor to watch for roof or window damage.
Cold snaps matter too. The National Weather Service Tampa Bay summary of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2022 cold ranks it among the three coldest events on record for the area. Wrap exposed pipes and let a faucet drip if a freeze is forecast and you will be gone.
Your pre-trip checklist
- Close the main water shutoff.
- Place sensors in the usual spots.
- Set the thermostat and check the condensate drain.
- Turn the water heater down or off.
- Check appliance hoses and supply lines.
- Clear gutters and secure the yard.
- Give a neighbor your contact details and our number.
If the worst happens, shut off the main as soon as you arrive and call us. Storm water damage cleanup covers the weather side, and the same line handles plumbing leaks.
Who should have a key and a plan
Choose one neighbor, friend or house sitter and share a short written plan. It should list where the main shutoff is, how to check the thermostat, what to look for in the garage and under sinks and who to call if something goes wrong.
Give them our number and your insurer details. A fast response while you are away can keep a small leak from becoming a large loss.
Consider a leak sensor with a phone alert under the sink, near the water heater and by the washing machine, since early warning limits the damage.
According to the published ANSI/IICRC S500 water damage standard, the speed and method of drying decide how much of a structure can be saved, which is why this guide stresses acting early.
Local note on seasonal risks
The National Weather Service Tampa Bay wet season runs May 25 through October 10, which is the stretch when travelers in Valrico, Lithia and Tampa are most likely to come home to roof leaks or drain overflows. The December 2022 freeze showed that a cold snap can threaten pipes in a house that nobody is heating.
Travel and water damage questions Valrico homeowners ask
Should I turn off the water when I leave for a week?
Closing the main is the simplest protection against a burst line. Ask your plumber about irrigation, ice makers and water heaters that depend on supply.
Do leak sensors really help?
They alert you quickly to small leaks, which limits damage. Sensors that connect to a phone are most useful when you travel.
Should I leave the air conditioner on?
Usually yes in a Florida summer, set at a moderate temperature. Check the condensate drain and consider a float switch.
Can a neighbor help?
Yes. Give them your contact information and a plan, including our number and your insurer details.
What if I come home to water?
Shut off the main, stay out of water near electrical equipment, photograph the damage and call us. The line is answered 24 hours a day.