Snowbird Guide: Preparing Your Florida Home’s Plumbing

If you are one of the thousands of seasonal residents who spend part of the year in Southwest Florida, preparing your home plumbing for an extended absence is essential. An undetected leak in an unoccupied home can cause catastrophic damage over weeks or months. Here is how to protect your property while you are away.

Should You Shut Off the Water?

The safest option is to shut off the main water supply at the meter when leaving for an extended period. This eliminates the risk of supply line leaks flooding an unoccupied home. However, this also means your irrigation system will not run. Weigh the risk of a plumbing leak against the need for landscape maintenance and make your decision accordingly.

If You Leave the Water On

If you need to keep water on for irrigation or a property manager, consider installing a whole-home water monitoring and shutoff system. These smart devices detect abnormal water flow and can automatically shut off the supply, sending you an alert on your phone wherever you are.

Prepare Before You Leave

Before departing, walk through the house and check all visible plumbing for drips or moisture. Run each fixture briefly and check under sinks for leaks. Inspect your water heater for signs of corrosion. Consider setting your water heater to vacation mode to save energy. Make sure your AC is set to maintain temperature and humidity control to prevent mold growth while you are away.

Arrange Monitoring

Ask a trusted neighbor or property management company to check on your home regularly while you are away. Provide them with your contact information and a key. Ask them to check for signs of water damage during their visits and to contact you immediately if anything looks wrong.

Return Inspection

When you return, walk through the house before fully settling in. Check for water stains, musty odors, and any signs of moisture intrusion that may have occurred during your absence. If anything seems off, a professional leak detection inspection can quickly determine whether there is a problem.

Leaving for the season? Call Leak Inspector at (941) 214-2222 for a pre-departure inspection.