Hurricane prep checklist

Storm damage to plumbing is rarely dramatic. It is a seized valve, a drain that was already slow, and a house nobody shut the water off in.

Property: Checked:

Before the season

• Main shut-off located, and turned fully off and on
• If it is seized, replacement booked — do this now, not during a storm
• Every local stop valve turned off and on
• Any drain that is already slow cleared
• Water heater properly strapped and secured
• Water heater drain pan present, and its outlet runs somewhere safe
• Under every sink checked for slow leaks
• Property photographed for insurance purposes
• Everyone in the household knows where the main valve is

When a storm is forecast

• Drinking water stored
• Bath filled for flushing and washing — check the tub actually holds water
• Hoses disconnected from outside faucets
• Exposed exterior pipework checked
• Loose items near exterior plumbing secured

If you are leaving the property

• Main water shut off at the valve — this is the one that matters
• Water heater switched off if leaving for an extended period
• Photographs taken of every room
• A neighbor or manager who can access the property identified

After the storm

• Water turned back on slowly
• Under every sink checked before leaving the property alone
• Around the water heater checked
• Every drain run before assuming it is clear
• Any new damp patch treated as suspicious, not as rain

The one people skip

Turning the shut-off valve. Every plumber in South Florida says it and almost nobody does it, because nothing appears to be wrong.

It is the only thing standing between a failed connector and a flooded property.