Going on vacation means offering yourself a moment of relaxation and escape, away from the stress of everyday life. However, one concern often remains in mind: what happens at home in the event of a water leak? A leaking pipe, a flush that runs continuously or a defective water heater can cause heavy damage in your absence. Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to protect yourself against this kind of inconvenience.
How to protect your plumbing system during the holidays?
Before leaving home, you must complete a complete check of your installation. A small visual inspection of exposed piping, gaskets and appliances may be sufficient to detect a potential leak. Also consider draining outdoor taps and insulating frost-sensitive pipes in winter. Good preventive maintenance significantly reduces the risk of infiltration or breakage.
Some high-tech solutions to avoid water leaks
The technology now presents innovative tools to monitor and secure your water network, even remotely.
A connected faucet
This type of tap allows you to control the opening and closing of the water via a mobile application. Practical for cutting off the water supply remotely if a problem is detected.
Connected water leak detectors
Placed at strategic points (under the sinks, near the washing machine or the water heater), these sensors send an alert to your phone in case of abnormal presence of water. This will give you time to react and call the repair service.
A water quality monitoring system
Some devices go further than simply detecting leaks. They analyse the composition of the water in real time to anticipate the appearance of tartar or corrosion (the two factors of weakening the pipes).
Smart toilets
In addition to their comfort, connected toilets can signal a defective flush or a continuous leak. They thus allow a quick intervention to limit the damage.
A connected water heater system
A modern water heater can be equipped with an intelligent module that signals any operating anomalies. It may report abnormal overpressure or discharge.
A connected irrigation system
For those who have a garden, these devices make it possible to manage watering in an automated and secure way. This therefore avoids overflows or leaks due to a cracked pipeline.
A connected water softener
It protects installations against limescale and can also signal unusual water consumption. The latter is often indicative of a leak.
Should we completely turn off the water before going on vacation?
In many cases, the simplest solution remains the safest: close the general water supply before leaving. This eliminates any risk of leakage during your absence. This precaution is particularly recommended for stays of several days or even several weeks. For more safety, also remember to empty certain sensitive appliances such as the washing machine or dishwasher.
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