Before you leave for your trip - turn off your water a PSA - The DIS Discussion Forums

Disneycrazymom · 05-31-2009, 09:46 AM

I have been around for years and travel a lot. I have never experienced what happened to us last weekend. We were away for 3 days - just 36 hours- and arrived home to a broken pipe and water EVERYWHERE in my house on Monday. Even today 6 days later we are still drying with huge fans and humidifiers. All my hardwood - gone. All the basement walls - gone. Airconditioner/ heater - gone. Holes in my drywall to help it dry. Worries about mold! Bathrooms gutted to the studs.

I am not looking for sympaty (altough I'll take prayers) but to help get the word out to turn off the main water valve when you travel. Had we taken 5 minutes to go downstairs and turn off the water we would be cleaning up a puddle in the bathroom and replacing a $5 pipe.

So learn for what we are going through and turn off your water at the main valve before you leave! It matters!

Tiffany_PartyOf7 · 05-31-2009, 09:50 AM

AGHH!!! That really stinks!!! Thanks for the reminder. I've never even thought to turn off the main water for a 3 day trip LOL... definitely will be now. LOL

dancin Disney style · 05-31-2009, 09:56 AM

Wow....we always turn the water off to the washing machine but had never thought about the main.

pepe of ohio · 05-31-2009, 10:09 AM

We also, turn down the hot water tank to vacation setting, turn off air/furnace before we leave.

RMulieri · 05-31-2009, 10:14 AM

I am so sorry

hugs and prayers. We usually shut ours off. I always thought my DH was paranoid...guess not.

The Hendies · 05-31-2009, 11:26 AM

Prayers are easy ... consider it done! Our friends had the same type of damage when their Automatic Ice Cube machine line broke - tiny hose, but water flowed until their well went dry! Water will be off for our future vacations! God Bless!

mickeystoontown · 05-31-2009, 11:40 AM

I know you said you weren't asking for sympathy but I certainly sympathize for you. That totally stinks. We are fortunate to have my mother live next door so she comes over, does a walk through of the house, checks our mail and feeds our puppy. I've housesat before too and I always do a walk through because I have heard these type of horror stories before.

Hope you get everything repaired soon (and without a huge financial burden).

WeLoveLilo05 · 05-31-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disneycrazymom

I have been around for years and travel a lot. I have never experienced what happened to us last weekend. We were away for 3 days - just 36 hours- and arrived home to a broken pipe and water EVERYWHERE in my house on Monday. Even today 6 days later we are still drying with huge fans and humidifiers. All my hardwood - gone. All the basement walls - gone. Airconditioner/ heater - gone. Holes in my drywall to help it dry. Worries about mold! Bathrooms gutted to the studs.

I am not looking for sympaty (altough I'll take prayers) but to help get the word out to turn off the main water valve when you travel. Had we taken 5 minutes to go downstairs and turn off the water we would be cleaning up a puddle in the bathroom and replacing a $5 pipe.

So learn for what we are going through and turn off your water at the main valve before you leave! It matters!

Oh my Gosh, I am so sorry to hear that you returned home to something like that. I will say a little prayer for you.

seashoreCM · 05-31-2009, 02:58 PM

Burst washing machine hoses (sometimes the metal collar at the end is what rusts and breaks) rank high on the reasons for homeowner insurance claims.

I would not expect a pipe to break, though.

Now turning off the water and gas before you evacuate for a storm makes sense since otherwise you will be billed for water or gas usage if the house including the pipes get damaged.

If you do turn off the water at the main valve, also turn off the water heater. There are obscure circumstances that can cause the tank to be siphoned empty with no water pressure and then the heater will be damaged when the heat comes on or worse yet you have a fire.

Forced hot water furnaces need periodic checking during winter. If the furnace fails, its components freeze up and it is of course impossible to drain it and also have it run.

Home handyman hints: http://www.cockam.com/home.htm

tgrundy · 05-31-2009, 03:20 PM

So sorry to hear about your troubles. Thanks for the tip, I was contemplating that since we are leaving in 17 days, now it will be on my to do list.

Tink-n-Belle · 05-31-2009, 03:53 PM

That happened to one of my friends. $90k in damages. Ouch.

Also, make sure to close your freezer. I left the freezer open just a hair (didn't shut it all the way)and when we got back in April, everything was melted and iced up- since it was just opened a hair. (it never sealed tight to close)

Thanks for the advice!!!!! We always do this!!

05-31-2009, 09:46 AM	#1
Disneycrazymom No trip for us this year. I am so sad! Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: In an almost finished house! Posts: 5,795	Before you leave for your trip - turn off your water a PSA I have been around for years and travel a lot. I have never experienced what happened to us last weekend. We were away for 3 days - just 36 hours- and arrived home to a broken pipe and water EVERYWHERE in my house on Monday. Even today 6 days later we are still drying with huge fans and humidifiers. All my hardwood - gone. All the basement walls - gone. Airconditioner/ heater - gone. Holes in my drywall to help it dry. Worries about mold! Bathrooms gutted to the studs. I am not looking for sympaty (altough I'll take prayers) but to help get the word out to turn off the main water valve when you travel. Had we taken 5 minutes to go downstairs and turn off the water we would be cleaning up a puddle in the bathroom and replacing a $5 pipe. So learn for what we are going through and turn off your water at the main valve before you leave! It matters! __________________ I've been booed! But I can't find the cute little pumpkin! (found by a fairy )

05-31-2009, 09:50 AM	#2
Tiffany_PartyOf7 Missing My Mouse Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 261	AGHH!!! That really stinks!!! Thanks for the reminder. I've never even thought to turn off the main water for a 3 day trip LOL... definitely will be now. LOL __________________ Tiffany - Mommy to: Raymond 4/03 Arianna 5/05 Alexander 5/06 Nathaniel 1/08 and Bennett Born 8/7/09

05-31-2009, 09:56 AM	#3
dancin Disney style I found one to share with some fab american disers Could you break off the handle? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,670	Wow....we always turn the water off to the washing machine but had never thought about the main. __________________

05-31-2009, 10:09 AM	#4
pepe of ohio DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hubbard, Ohio, northeast Ohio 7 miles from Pa. border Posts: 5,864	Good reminder..... We also, turn down the hot water tank to vacation setting, turn off air/furnace before we leave.

05-31-2009, 10:14 AM	#5
RMulieri DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tom Sawyers Island Posts: 19,025	I am so sorry hugs and prayers. We usually shut ours off. I always thought my DH was paranoid...guess not. __________________ Going Back to the DarkSide -Universal Orlando August 2013

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The DIS Register to remove Join Date: 1997 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,000,000

05-31-2009, 11:26 AM	#6
The Hendies DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,348	Prayers are easy ... consider it done! Our friends had the same type of damage when their Automatic Ice Cube machine line broke - tiny hose, but water flowed until their well went dry! Water will be off for our future vacations! God Bless! __________________ 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2008 (X2!), 2010 (X2!), 2011 Next trip .... 11/13 and again 10/14 DH Me DD 31 & her DH , DS 29, DS 28

05-31-2009, 11:40 AM	#7
mickeystoontown DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bayou Country, La. Posts: 21,963	I know you said you weren't asking for sympathy but I certainly sympathize for you. That totally stinks. We are fortunate to have my mother live next door so she comes over, does a walk through of the house, checks our mail and feeds our puppy. I've housesat before too and I always do a walk through because I have heard these type of horror stories before. Hope you get everything repaired soon (and without a huge financial burden). __________________ 2013 trip report: 1 crazy family+2 resorts+5 parks+1 snake+1 surprise= A Mickeystoontown Report: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3122381

05-31-2009, 02:58 PM	#9
seashoreCM All around nice guy. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 20,687	Burst washing machine hoses (sometimes the metal collar at the end is what rusts and breaks) rank high on the reasons for homeowner insurance claims. I would not expect a pipe to break, though. Now turning off the water and gas before you evacuate for a storm makes sense since otherwise you will be billed for water or gas usage if the house including the pipes get damaged. If you do turn off the water at the main valve, also turn off the water heater. There are obscure circumstances that can cause the tank to be siphoned empty with no water pressure and then the heater will be damaged when the heat comes on or worse yet you have a fire. Forced hot water furnaces need periodic checking during winter. If the furnace fails, its components freeze up and it is of course impossible to drain it and also have it run. Home handyman hints: http://www.cockam.com/home.htm __________________ Last Disney trip: December 2010. Todays FAQs: Fastpass Plus -- Will it be going by such and such a date? Regular Fastpass -- Will it be gone by such and such a date?

05-31-2009, 03:20 PM	#10
tgrundy Mouseketeer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Plainfield, CT Posts: 103	So sorry to hear about your troubles. Thanks for the tip, I was contemplating that since we are leaving in 17 days, now it will be on my to do list. __________________ DH: ME DS, 9 DD,6

05-31-2009, 03:53 PM	#11
Tink-n-Belle DIS Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,114	That happened to one of my friends. $90k in damages. Ouch. Also, make sure to close your freezer. I left the freezer open just a hair (didn't shut it all the way)and when we got back in April, everything was melted and iced up- since it was just opened a hair. (it never sealed tight to close) Thanks for the advice!!!!! We always do this!! __________________ BWV 12,11,10,09,08,07, 06(2) BLT 13,12,11,10 BCV 13,12,06 AKV 08VB 06,08 & 09Cont 02 Poly 86 Grand Floridian 88 All Stars 94 & 04 Club villas 84,85,87,90,92 & 99 offsite 83,81,80,76 &73

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