Packing your bags, finalizing your itinerary, and securing a pet sitter are usually at the top of every vacation prep list. But while you’re busy making sure you’ve got enough sunscreen, it’s incredibly easy to forget about the silent systems running in the background of your house. Coming home to a flooded kitchen or a foul-smelling bathroom ruins the post-vacation glow instantly. Water damage happens fast, and when no one is around to catch a dripping pipe or a running toilet, a minor issue quickly turns into a costly disaster.

If you want true peace of mind while you’re sitting by the pool, you need to prep your pipes before you head to the airport. If you do spot a pre-existing leak during your pre-trip walkthrough, reaching out to a reliable plumbing service to handle the repairs before you leave is the smartest move you can make. Here’s a simple guide to securing your home’s water systems so you can actually relax on your trip.

Shut Off the Main Water Supply

The single most effective way to protect your house from unexpected water damage is to turn off the main water valve. If water can’t flow into the house, it can’t flood your living room if a pipe suddenly bursts or a washing machine hose fails. Locate your main shut-off valve—usually found in the basement, a utility closet, or outside near the street—and turn it completely off.

Once the valve is closed, go to the lowest sink in your house and turn on the faucet to drain whatever water is left sitting in the lines. If you have an automatic sprinkler system that needs to run while you’re gone, you might not be able to shut off the entire main valve. In that case, manually shut off the individual water supply valves located behind your toilets, under your sinks, and behind your washing machine.

Tweak the Water Heater

Your water heater is a huge energy consumer, constantly working to keep gallons of water piping hot for your daily showers. Since nobody will be home to use that hot water, letting the tank run at its normal setting is just throwing money out the window.

Most modern water heaters feature a dedicated vacation mode setting on the dial. Switching to this setting drops the temperature significantly, which saves energy and reduces the wear and tear on the unit while you’re away. If your tank doesn’t have a vacation setting, you can manually lower the thermostat to a cooler temperature. If you turned off your main water supply in the previous step, you also need to turn off the power or gas supply to the heater. If the tank accidentally drains while the heating element is still running, it’ll burn out the element and ruin the appliance.

Clean the Drains and Garbage Disposal

Standing water and food particles left inside your drains will sit there and rot while you’re enjoying your holiday. When you finally unlock the front door to come home, you’ll be greeted by a terrible smell that has permeated the whole house. Pests like fruit flies and drain flies thrive in these damp, dirty environments, so you want to leave your sinks as clean as possible.

Run your garbage disposal with a handful of ice cubes and some lemon peels to scrape away any lingering food debris and leave a fresh scent. Then, pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar down all the sink and shower drains in the house. Let the mixture fizz for a few minutes, then flush it all away with hot water. This simple trick clears out soap scum and minor blockages, ensuring you don’t return to a smelly kitchen.

Inspect for Silent Leaks

Before you lock up, take ten minutes to walk through your house and inspect all the visible plumbing fixtures. Look closely under the kitchen and bathroom sinks for any signs of moisture, damp wood, or small puddles. Check the base of your toilets to ensure the wax ring is holding up and water isn’t seeping onto the floor.

Listen carefully for the sound of a running toilet, which can waste hundreds of gallons of water over the course of a week-long trip. Give the hoses behind your washing machine a quick visual inspection to ensure they aren’t bulging, cracked, or loose. Catching a tiny drip before you leave gives you the chance to throw a bucket under it or call a professional to swap out a faulty part. Ignoring a small drip is a risky gamble when nobody’s home to monitor it.

Empty the Washing Machine and Dishwasher

Appliances that use water need a chance to dry out before you leave them closed up for days on end. Make sure you run your final loads of laundry and dishes the day before your trip, not the morning of your flight.

Empty the dishwasher and leave the door propped open an inch or two so air can circulate. Do the same for your washing machine, especially if you have a front-loading model. Leaving a damp washing machine door shut tightly for a week creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew. By the time you get back, the drum will smell like a wet towel, and that odor is incredibly hard to get rid of.

Enjoy a Stress-Free Getaway

Taking a vacation is all about escaping your daily stressors and making great memories. You shouldn’t spend your time on the beach worrying about the state of your kitchen sink. By taking a proactive approach and running through this simple plumbing checklist, you protect your property and ensure you come back to a clean, dry, and welcoming environment. A little bit of prep work goes a long way in preventing disasters. Secure your pipes, double-check your appliances, lock the front door, and go enjoy your well-deserved getaway with total peace of mind.