Whether your preferred summer activity is surfing some waves or enjoying a glass of local wine on a cloudless afternoon, the warm weather is a welcome arrival. Soon, countless vacation homes in Suffolk County will be lighting back up after months in hibernation.

Unfortunately, vacation homeowners in Long Island’s East End and North Fork too often return at the start of the warms season to find that their property had a plumbing emergency. Suddenly, they can’t enjoy any summer fun. They’re too busy dealing with the damage.

The Burt’s Reliable plumbing team is here for any repairs and maintenance you need, but we’d much rather help you address potential plumbing problems preemptively. That way, your vacation home will be nothing but delight and good memories.

Plumbing considerations for empty vacation homes

Here are a few precautions you can take to safeguard your vacation home’s plumbing while you’re away.

Pools and spas

Even though it marginally bumps up your electric bills, you should continue to run your pool’s pump if there’s water in the pool. Otherwise, your pool might develop algae. You can check your pump’s settings, though, and set them as low as possible while keeping your water clean. Also, be sure to turn off the heat to your spa while you’re not around.

Water heaters

Today’s water heaters have a “vacation” mode that reduces how often the unit runs while you’re gone. This will significantly lower your energy bills while you aren’t in the vacation home. It’s also a good idea to flush your water heater before leaving for the season. This will reduce the sediment in the tank, which can cause corrosion.

General plumbing

A great way to avoid ice in your pipes or other potential damage to your vacation home’s general plumbing is to turn off the water at the main shut-off valve. Of course, you can’t do this if you need the water from the main for a sprinkler system or pool.

You should also never entirely shut down your home’s heating when leaving for the winter. Instead, set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep pipes from freezing during a cold snap.

For extra peace of mind, you can ask a neighbor to periodically check in on your home while you’re away and confirm that there are no plumbing issues.

Burt’s Reliable can be your trusted vacation home partner.

Over 2,000 homeowners in Suffolk County depend on Burt’s Reliable to take care of their vacation properties while they’re not home. They feel comfortable enough with us to leave their house keys in our office.

From multi-generational family homes to rental properties, we look after all kinds of Long Island houses with our Vacation Home Maintenance Program. We winterize your home — including shutting down the water, if necessary — and make sure it’s ready for you before you return in the spring.

The Burt’s Reliable team is ready to take care of your vacation property. Get in touch with us to discuss your home comfort and maintenance needs.