December is a time of year when many people go off on vacations. Sometimes it’s extended trips to stay with family for the holidays, other times it’s a way to spend the winter holidays in a sunnier, warmer climate. But whatever the reason that you might decide to go on a winter vacation, you should make sure before you leave that your house’s plumbing is equipped with an automatic shut-off valve.

What’s an Automatic Shut-off valve?

It’s a way to protect your home from flooding due to an accident with the plumbing—the sort that sometimes occur in homes that are left empty for a long stretch. The valve is attached to the water main that enters the house and is designed to close the water main if flooding starts to occur.

The valves can work in a number of different fashions: some have sensor mats placed on the floor that detect the presence of water when there shouldn’t be any; others rely on sensing sudden drops in pressure, indicating a massive loss of water somewhere. Whatever type of emergency shut-off valve is best suited to your home, you need to rely on a licensed plumber to handle all the installation work.

You May Wish to Consider a Sump Pump as Well

Here’s another excellent device to protect your home from water damage when you’re away. (And for when you’re home as well.) A sump pump is placed in the basement or crawlspace of a home, where it automatically activates to remove water that starts to flood the area. You can ask our plumbers about the different types of sump pumps, and they’ll be glad to take care of the work involved in setting one up.

Bud Matthews Services is here for all your home service needs in Durham, NC. Call today for automatic shut-off valve services.