Happy School Holidays New South Wales!
School holidays are here, and if you’re packing the car and heading off for a week or two, there’s one thing worth doing before you lock the door: a quick pipe check. An empty house in the middle of winter is exactly the kind of situation where a small plumbing issue can turn into a big one because there’s nobody around to notice until you get back.
The good news is you don’t need to be a plumber to do this. Five minutes before you leave can save you a very unpleasant homecoming.
Why an Empty House Is Higher Risk in Winter
When you’re home, you notice things quickly, a slow drip, a damp patch, water pressure that feels a bit off. When the house is empty for a week or more, none of that gets noticed. A minor leak that would normally get fixed the same day instead has a week (or more) to run unchecked, and with the heating off and temperatures dropping overnight, pipes are also more exposed to the temperature and pressure stress that leads to bursts in the first place.
The combination of “nobody’s watching” and “conditions that stress your pipes” is exactly why holiday periods are one of the more common times for Hunter Eco Plumbing to get called out to serious water damage.
The 5-Minute Checklist Before You Go
1. Know Where Your Stopcock Is (And Check It Works)
This is the single most useful thing you can do. Your stopcock (or main water shut-off valve) controls the water supply to your entire property. If you don’t know where it is, find it now, not after something’s already gone wrong. If you’re not confident it’s in good working order, it’s worth having it checked before a longer trip away.
2. Check for Existing Drips or Damp Patches
Walk around the house and check under sinks, around the hot water system, under the house or in the roof cavity if accessible, and around any exposed outdoor taps. A small drip you’ve been meaning to look at is far more likely to become a real problem while you’re away and nobody’s there to catch it early.
3. Leave Low-Level Heating On (Don’t Switch It Off Completely)
You don’t need to heat the house as if you’re home, but leaving heating on a low, consistent setting helps keep pipes (particularly any exposed to roof cavities or external walls) from experiencing the sharp temperature swings that increase the risk of a crack or burst.
4. Turn Off Outdoor Taps and Disconnect Hoses
Outdoor taps left connected to a hose over a cold week are more exposed to temperature drops than taps used regularly. Disconnect hoses and, if you can, turn off the water supply to any garden taps you won’t be using.
5. Consider Turning Off Your Water Supply Entirely (If You’re Away for an Extended Period)
For longer trips, two weeks or more, it’s worth considering shutting off the water supply at the stopcock altogether. If nothing is being used, there’s no benefit to having the whole property pressurised the entire time you’re gone. Just remember to check your hot water system’s requirements first, as some systems need water flow to operate safely.
A Simple Habit That Prevents Expensive Surprises
None of this takes long, and most of it is a one-time check rather than an ongoing job. But the difference between a house that’s ready for a week away and one that isn’t can be the difference between coming home to a relaxing end to the holidays, or coming home to a flooded laundry and a very stressful afternoon.
If you’re not sure about the condition of your pipes, your stopcock, or your hot water system before you head off, it’s worth getting a quick assessment beforehand. It’s much easier to fix a small issue on your terms than deal with an emergency while you’re 500km away at the beach.
Heading off these school holidays? If you’d like a pre-holiday plumbing check, get in touch with Hunter Eco Plumbing before you go.
When to Call Hunter Eco Plumbing?
If your property struggles during heavy rain, it may be worth having the drainage assessed before the issue becomes more serious. Hunter Eco Plumbing provides practical drainage solutions across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, including ag drains and stormwater drainage systems designed to suit your property and conditions.
Fill out the contact form below or give us a call on 0488 123 034.
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