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Vacation Ready Plumbing Tips for Phoenix Homeowners Before You Go

A Homeowner’s Plumbing Checklist Before You Leave Arizona for the Summer 

If you’re leaving Phoenix for vacation during the intense Arizona summer heat, your plumbing system deserves just as much attention as your luggage and travel plans. Every year, homeowners return home to flooded garages, burst water lines, sewer odors, failed water heaters, irrigation leaks, or water damage that could have been avoided with a few simple preventative steps. That’s exactly why we decided to give you some important plumbing tips on how to prevent a flood in your home while your on vacation. 

At Robins Plumbing, Inc., we believe in speaking homeowner, educating and empowering our clients, and providing a higher level of service. Here’s a simple, but impactful plumbing vacation checklist to help protect your home while you’re away. 

Before you hit the road, hit your plumbing checklist. 

 Why Vacation Plumbing Preparation Matters in Phoenix 

Arizona summers are brutal on plumbing systems. Extreme temperatures, dry air, expanding soil, and long periods of inactivity inside the home can all create unexpected plumbing issues while you’re gone. Many homeowners — especially seasonal residents and snowbirds — leave their homes vacant for weeks or months at a time. Unfortunately, a tiny leak can turn into a catastrophic flood before anyone notices. 

The good news? Most vacation plumbing disasters are preventable. 

 

Should I Shut Off the Water to My Home Before Vacation? 

Yes — especially if you do not have a leak detection system. 

One of the best ways to protect your home while traveling is to shut off the water supply to the house before you leave. Even a small supply line leak under a sink or behind a toilet can cause massive water damage if left running for days or weeks. If your home does not have a smart leak detection system like LeakSecure, shutting the water off is strongly recommended. 

But What About My Irrigation or Pool? 

Many homeowners worry that shutting off the house water will also disable: 

• Irrigation systems 

• Pool autofill systems 

• Outdoor watering 

• Landscaping systems 

If shutting off your home’s water would create other problems, it may be time to install: 

• A vacation valve 

• Or a smart shutoff system like LeakSecure 

A professionally installed LeakSecure system can allow you to: 

• Monitor your plumbing remotely 

• Detect leaks immediately 

• Shut your water off from your phone 

• Receive alerts while traveling 

If you’d like to vacation worry-free with the ability to control your water from an app on your phone, call Robins Plumbing, Inc. at 623-486-4657 for a LeakSecure consultation today. 

 

What Should I Do With My Water Heater Before Vacation? 

Your water heater should always be part of your vacation checklist. 

If You’ll Be Gone Less Than 4 Weeks 

Most modern water heaters have a: 

• Vacation Mode 

• Low Energy Mode 

• Temperature Reduction Setting 

This helps: 

• Reduce energy usage 

• Lower utility bills 

• Reduce unnecessary wear on the system 

If You’ll Be Gone Longer Than a Month 

For long-term vacations or snowbird travel, draining the water heater may be recommended. 

This can help: 

• Prevent stagnant water issues 

• Reduce sediment buildup 

• Protect the system during extended inactivity 

Because Phoenix has extremely hard water, sediment buildup inside water heaters happens quickly. Long periods without use can worsen existing buildup. 

If you’re unsure whether your system should be drained or simply placed in vacation mode, it’s best to schedule a professional inspection before leaving. 

 

Why Do P-Traps Matter Before Vacation? 

Every drain in your home relies on a plumbing component called a P-trap. 

A P-trap holds water inside the drain to block: 

• Sewer gases 

• Odors 

• Bugs and insects 

If the water inside the trap evaporates during a long vacation, you could return home to: 

• Horrible sewer smells 

• Drain flies 

• Cockroaches entering through drains 

• Dry, smelly plumbing fixtures 

For a full explanation of how P-traps work, check out our related blog:
“What Is a P-Trap and Why Is It Important?” 

Before Leaving: 

• Run water in all sinks, showers, tubs, and floor drains 

• Don’t forget guest bathrooms or laundry rooms 

• Check rarely used drains 

If You’ll Be Gone Longer Than Several Weeks 

You may want to: 

• Have someone periodically run water through the drains 

• Or professionally prepare the drains before departure 

Some homeowners also place rags or drain covers over unused drains during extended absences to help reduce odor and pest intrusion from dried-out traps. 

 

Should I Bypass My Water Softener While on Vacation? 

In many cases, yes. 

If your home has a water softener and nobody will be using water while you’re away, bypassing the system may help: 

• Reduce unnecessary regeneration cycles 

• Save salt 

• Reduce wear on the softener 

• Prevent stagnant softened water issues 

Because every system is different, homeowners should consult with a plumbing professional if they’re unsure how to properly place their softener into bypass mode. 

 

Why Should I Check My Irrigation System Before Vacation? 

Your irrigation system continues working while you’re gone — and small leaks can become very expensive. 

Before leaving: 

• Check sprinkler heads 

• Look for soggy areas in landscaping 

• Inspect exposed irrigation lines 

• Verify timers are functioning properly 

• Ensure no zones are stuck running continuously 

In Phoenix summers, irrigation leaks can waste enormous amounts of water and create damage to landscaping, foundations, and hardscapes while no one is home to notice. 

 

What Plumbing Problems Commonly Happen While Homeowners Are Away? 

At Robins Plumbing, Inc., we regularly see homeowners return from vacation to: 

• Flooded homes 

• Burst supply lines 

• Failed water heaters 

• Sewer odors 

• Irrigation leaks 

• Softener failures 

• Water damage behind walls 

• Mold growth from unnoticed leaks 

Seeing so many avoidable catastrophes is one of the biggest reasons we work so hard to educate homeowners before they travel. 

A few simple preventative steps today can save thousands of dollars later. 

 

Phoenix Vacation Plumbing Checklist 

Before You Leave: 

1. Shut off your home’s water supply if possible 
2. Consider installing LeakSecure or a vacation valve 
3. Put your water heater in vacation mode 
4. Drain the water heater for extended absences 
5. Run water in all drains and fixtures 
6. Ensure all P-traps contain water 
7. Prepare drains for long-term vacancy 
8. Bypass the water softener if appropriate 
9. Inspect the irrigation system for leaks 
10. Test smart leak monitoring systems and alerts 

 

Vacation With Peace of Mind 

Your home should not become a plumbing emergency while you’re trying to relax. 

If you want the ability to monitor and control your home’s plumbing from anywhere in the world, the team at Robins Plumbing, Inc. can help you explore smart protection options like LeakSecure and vacation shutoff solutions designed specifically for Arizona homeowners. 

Whether you’re leaving for a weekend or heading north for the summer, we’re here to help you protect your home before you go. 

It’s Time to Call a Robin 

623-486-4657