Protect the Home While Away on Summer Vacation with these 6 Tips

Petri Plumbing & Heating has advice for Brooklyn homeowners to leave their homes safe while they are away

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — June 13, 2017 — Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc., a leading plumbing and heating company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, provides advice for homeowners to prepare their homes if they are planning to be away for a week or more.

“Unoccupied homes are at a greater risk for water damage and theft,” says Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing & Heating. “Fortunately, there are a few easy things that a homeowner can do to protect their homes while they’re away.”

Here are some suggestions that Petri says are important to consider when the home will be empty for at least a week:

1. Change water heater settings – Some water heaters have a vacation mode setting. Petri recommends turning the the water heater on that setting so that it will lower the heater’s internal water temperature and reduce utitily bills. If the water heater does not have this mode, turn the temperature down a few degrees to save energy.
2. Clean your garbage disposal – To prevent any unpleasent odors when returning home from vacation, flush out the garbage disposal with ½ cup distilled white vinegar and hot water while letting it run.
3. Turn off the water main valve – Water damage is the No. 1 cause of problems that occur while a homeowner is out of town. Turn off the water main valve that leads into the home. A leaking water pipe can cause thousands of dollars in damage if left untreated.
4. Do a faucet check – Check all the faucets in the home to make sure none are dripping. Drips over a week or more can add additional dollars to your water bill.
5. Set one lamp on a timer – Burglars prey on easy targets and look for homes that appear empty. It is best to set a lamp on a timer to make it appear that someone is in the home at all times.
6. Address standing toilet water – To prevent the ring that often occurs from standing water, add ½ cup of chlorine bleach to the toilet bowl and let sit until residents return home.

For Brooklyn residents who would like help and suggestions for preparing their homes for vacation, the professionals at Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc., are ready to assist. For more information visit www.petriplumbing.com or call Petri Plumbing at 718-748-1254.

About Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable Service Experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call 718-748-1254.