The worst water losses tend to happen in empty houses. A supply line splits at noon on day one, and by the time you return the floor has been wet for four days. If you are leaving your Shirley, NY home for a long weekend or a week, a little preparation shifts the odds back in your favor.
None of this takes special skill. It is a matter of knowing where your shutoff is, reducing what can fail, and having someone who can get inside quickly. The checklist below is built for a trip of two to ten days.
The pre-trip checklist
Run through this the evening before you leave, not the morning of. Anything you cannot do, write on a note for your neighbor.
| Item | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Main water shutoff | Locate it, confirm it turns, close it if the trip is long | Stops a failed line from running for days |
| Water heater | Check the area for rust, damp or pooling, and know where its shutoff is | A tank failure releases a full load of water |
| Washing machine | Run no loads before leaving, and look at both hoses | Hoses are a common failure point |
| Dishwasher and ice maker | Leave them off and check for drips at the supply | Small leaks keep running unattended |
| Thermostat | Keep heat on in cold months, never fully off | Cold snaps freeze exposed lines |
| Sump pump | Test it and confirm the discharge is clear | Rain can arrive while you are gone |
| Keys and contacts | Give one person a key and your phone number | Someone must be able to get in |
| Photos | Take quick photos of each room before you go | Useful later if anything happens |
The main shutoff: close it or leave it?
For a trip of several days, closing the main valve is the single most effective step. With the supply closed, a split line or a loose fitting has nothing to push through it. Many owners close it for any trip over a weekend.
There are reasons to leave it open. A fire sprinkler system, a home with a well pump on a timer, or a pet that needs automatic water may depend on it. If you are not sure what your system needs, ask whoever installed it before you decide. Know the valve's location regardless, since anyone helping you will need it.
Test the valve before you rely on it. A valve that has not moved in years can stick or leak when first turned, so find that out at home with time to spare, not during an emergency.
Washing machine hoses and other quiet failures
Rubber supply hoses at the washer age from the inside, and a bulge, crack or rust at the fitting is a warning. Replace a suspect hose before the trip and do not start a load on your way out the door. Braided hoses last longer than plain rubber but still wear out.
The same attention applies to the dishwasher, refrigerator ice maker line, and the small valves under sinks and toilets. Look for dampness, mineral crust or rust. Anything that is wet today will be wetter by the time you return.
The water heater
A tank water heater holds a large volume, and when the tank wears through it can empty onto the floor. Look at the base for rust streaks, pooling or a damp pan. If the heater is old, ask a plumber about its condition before a long absence.
Many owners set the heater to vacation mode or turn it down for longer trips, and that also saves energy. If you do find a heater leaking when you come home, the decision-level answer is to shut off its water and power, stay out of standing water, and call. Details on that situation are on the water heater leak cleanup page.
Heat, thermostats and winter trips
Winter trips need one rule: do not turn the heat off. Set the thermostat to a steady temperature that keeps the whole house above the point where pipes are at risk, and open cabinet doors on exterior walls if you will be gone during a cold snap. A cheap Wi-Fi thermostat or leak sensor can alert your phone if the house cools or water appears.
If a line does freeze, the damage usually shows up after it thaws. Read about what to expect on the frozen pipe water damage page, and about what follows when a line splits on the burst pipe page.
Why freezing matters for a Shirley, NY trip
NOAA normals for the Islip airport station, the nearest NOAA station, show a January average low of 24.6 F and about 98 days a year with lows at or below freezing. They also show about 46 inches of precipitation a year. These are not measured in Shirley, but they describe the region.
If you travel between late fall and early spring, treat exposed or unheated plumbing as something to protect. Keep the heat on, and ask your neighbor to look at the house after any hard freeze.
Who has a key, and what to ask a neighbor
Pick one person, not three. A neighbor, relative or friend who can reach the house quickly is more useful than a distant contact who can only phone someone else. Give them a key, your travel dates, and your phone number.
Write the request down so nothing depends on memory. A good short list is below.
- Walk through once or twice and look at floors, ceilings and under sinks
- Listen for running water and check for a musty or damp smell
- Know where the main shutoff is and be willing to close it
- Call you first, then call a licensed plumber or the dispatch line
- Check the sump area after heavy rain
Tell your homeowners insurer if the house will be empty for an extended period. Some policies have conditions about unoccupied homes, so read yours.
If you come home to water
Stay calm and keep safety first. If water is present, close the main valve, stay out of standing water where outlets or appliances are involved, and take photos before moving anything. Then call (934) 223-1875 and the dispatch line will send a crew.
The line covers Shirley and nearby areas, including Mastic Beach and Yaphank. If the water is clean and the wet area is small, a crew can still tell you whether it has reached walls or subfloors, where it is hardest to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a trip of more than a few days, yes, in most homes. Closing the main valve removes the pressure behind a split line. Check first whether a sprinkler system, well pump or other equipment depends on it.
It is common to leave it connected, but do not run it before leaving and inspect both hoses. If you will be gone a long time, close the washer supply valves or the main.
Keep it on and steady, and do not set it so low that the house goes cold. Pick a temperature that keeps the whole house comfortably above freezing, and ask someone to check on it during a hard freeze.
They can. Islip's NOAA normals count about 98 days a year when lows reach freezing or below. Protect exposed plumbing, keep the heat on, and have someone check the house.
Ask them to walk through the house, look for running water or damp spots, know where the main shutoff is, and call you before anything else. Give them a key and your dates.
They can. A sensor near the washer, water heater and sink sends an alert if water appears, and some can close a valve. They help most when someone can respond to the alert.