I’m leaving on vacation soon. What should I do to prevent a water disaster while I'm gone?

I’m leaving on vacation soon. What should I do to prevent a water disaster while I'm gone?

INSIDE THE HOUSE

1) Shut the water off

The surest way to prevent a water leak is to turn off the water supply to your home via the water main shutoff valve, usually located on the perimeter of the house, often between the garage and laundry room.

2) Register with WaterSmart

If you’re going to leave your water on, make sure you’re signed up for WaterSmart, Woodlands Water’s customer portal, and set up notifications for leaks or unusual water usage.

3) Dial in your emergency contacts

If a leak does occur and you need to shut off your water, have a friend at the ready or call Woodlands Water any time of day at 855-H2O-SAVE. 

IN THE LANDSCAPE

1) Check the irrigation lines

• Look for leaks: Run your system to check for leaks in lines, joints and sprinkler heads.
• Ensure flow: Make sure drip emitters are flowing freely.
• Adjust sprinkler heads: Aim sprinklers so they're watering your lawn, not the driveway.

2) Check your irrigation controller

• Review your settings: Ensure your system is set to deliver 1 inch of water per week to the lawn and 1 to 1.5 inches to plants.
• Check the rain sensor: The last thing you need to spend money on after a vacation is unnecessary watering that can also damage your lawn.
• Replace the backup battery: A fresh battery in your irrigation controller will prevent power outages from screwing up your settings.

3) Mulch

Freshen mulch around plants and trees. 2-3 inches makes a huge difference in maintaining soil moisture and reducing soil temps. Keep mulch away from stalks and trunks to prevent fungal and bacteria issues from developing.

Got a question you'd like to see answered here? Send it to: weekly@woodlandswater.org

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