“Why should I care about a water leak?”
A MAX member left for vacation and asked a neighbor to check on his home a couple times. The neighbor checked the home 3 days after our MAX member left and found the entire main level flooded due to a pipe break. Water ran for 3 days resulting in extensive damage to his home, including mold. The cost of repairs was $20,000.

Typical water damage repairs can take 30-60 days. Want to prevent water damage in your home? Here are some good plumbing tips:

• Turn off your water if you are gone for a long period of time. Whether you are on vacation for weeks at a time or are a snowbird leaving your winter home vacant during the summer months, it is a good idea to shut off your water while away from home. Another idea is to have someone check on your home daily while you are away.
• Replace your rubber washing machine hoses every 3-5 years. Think back to when you purchased your washing machine, or better yet look up the receipt. Has it been over 5 years? Replace those rubber hoses with stainless steel braided lines. These lines are much less prone to bursting.
• Replace the supply lines to other plumbing every 3-5 years. Just like the washing machine above, the same advice holds true for other plumbing supply lines such as toilets, dishwashers and refrigerators with ice makers. In addition, consider replacing the toilet fill mechanism every 5 years to prevent failures.

Of course these suggestions depend on the type of connections you currently use for your plumbing. If you are uncertain about any plumbing items in your home, we recommend you consult a professional plumber or trusted handy-person.