A week away should not end with sewer odors in the guest bathroom or a flooded garage. A few simple checks before you leave, and when you return, prevent most vacation plumbing surprises.
Drain Doctor Plumbing & Rooter serves homeowners across Covina, West Covina, Glendora, Walnut, and the San Gabriel Valley. Here is a practical prep list tied to the services we provide every day.
Run water in unused bathrooms
Drain traps hold a water seal that blocks sewer gas from entering the house. Guest baths, basement sinks, and floor drains that sit unused for a week or more can dry out. Run water at every fixture for 30 seconds before you leave, and again when you return.
If you smell sewer gas after coming home but everything drains fine, dry traps are the most common cause, not a main line clog.
Test your main water shutoff
Know where your main shutoff is and confirm it turns freely. A stuck valve is a problem you want to discover before a supply line leak runs unchecked while you are away. If the valve will not budge, schedule plumbing repair before your trip.
Check the sump pump if you have one
Homes with basements or low garage areas in the San Gabriel Valley foothills often rely on a sump pump during winter rains. Before summer travel, pour a bucket of water into the pit and confirm the pump kicks on and discharges properly. If it does not, call for sump pump repair before you leave.
Look for slow drains before they become backups
Fix a slow kitchen or tub drain before vacation, not after. A partial clog can turn into a full backup when no one is home to notice, especially if an automatic irrigation system adds discharge near your sewer cleanout.
If a drain has been sluggish, drain clearing before travel is cheaper than emergency service when you walk in the door.
When you return
Flush toilets, run all taps, and check under sinks for drips that developed while the house was empty. If multiple drains are slow at once after a quiet week, the issue may have progressed in the main line, schedule camera inspection rather than guessing.
Questions before a long trip? Contact Drain Doctor. We offer same-day service and 24/7 emergency response across the San Gabriel Valley.