Preparing you home before you head back north

It is getting toward that time when residents begin to prepare to return to their Northern
abodes. Many of you are reviewing what needs to be done to close up your units.
Several important safety issues need addressing early perhaps turning off the water
completely when vacating your home (unless you have a pool or spa for auto fill)  is the
most important. As your community ages, the water heaters and plastic shut off valves
and other plumbing parts are more likely to rupture causing massive and expensive
water damage to your unit as well as others. So, here is some other helpful information
to assist you to close up your unit.

When you locate the water shut off valve the many homes will have plastic piping
and valves and a few of you will find copper piping and valves. Please test these valves
early to make sure they turn off completely, because over time the valves become
difficult to turn due to calcium deposits inside the valve. If you find that the water shut
off valve does not shut off completely, please replace it and the plumbing with more
reliable brass to brass fittings.

Don’t forget to shut off the electric breaker for the water heater, otherwise you could
have a heater burn up which can result in major damage. Also if you have a Home Watch
person, that person should turn the water on and let it run at least once a month, and flush
the toilets monthly. This will keep the valves from sticking.