---
title: "5 Plumbing Checks to Do Before You Leave on Holiday"
description: "An empty property with an undetected leak or frozen pipe can cause thousands of pounds of damage. These 5 checks take 15 minutes and prevent the most common holiday plumbing disasters."
author: "Drains Cleared Engineering Team"
published_at: 2026-06-02
canonical: "https://drainscleared.co.uk/help-and-advice/plumbing-checks-before-holiday"
tags: ["holiday plumbing","water damage prevention","stopcock","plumbing checks"]
---Most home insurance policies contain a condition that the property must be visited every 30–60 days during an absence, and that the water supply must be isolated if the property is unoccupied for more than a specified period (usually 5–14 days in winter). Failing to comply can invalidate a water damage claim entirely.

Beyond the insurance requirement, an unoccupied property with a slow leak can cause extensive damage before anyone notices. These five checks take 15 minutes before you leave and prevent the most common scenarios.

## 1. Locate and turn off the mains stopcock

However, the single most effective action you can take before leaving for a week or more is turning off the mains water supply. The stopcock is usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, or near the front door. After turning it off, open the cold tap at the kitchen sink to confirm flow has stopped and to relieve residual pressure.

Specifically, this eliminates the risk of a supply pipe failure causing flooding while you are away. It does not affect the toilet flush for a day or two (the cistern is already full) and does not prevent the boiler from running on a pre-existing system.

## 2. Check for dripping taps and running cisterns

Additionally, a dripping tap or a running cistern wastes water constantly. More importantly, if there is a secondary fault — such as a blocked overflow or a failing supply valve — a running cistern can overflow and flood when there is nobody home to notice. Check every tap and cistern is sealing correctly before you leave. A dripping tap wastes up to 1,000 litres per month and [costs more than the repair](/plumbers) to leave unfixed.

## 3. Check the boiler and heating settings

For example, in winter months, turning the heating completely off is not advisable for a property that will be unoccupied. Pipes in unheated properties freeze quickly when external temperatures fall below −5°C — and burst pipes do not announce themselves until the water returns on thawing. Set the heating to a frost protection setting (typically 7–10°C) rather than switching it off entirely.

As a result, this also protects the boiler itself: some condensing boilers have condensate traps that freeze if the property becomes very cold, causing boiler lockout that can only be resolved on-site.

## 4. Check under sinks and behind appliances for drips

Furthermore, a slow drip from a push-fit fitting, a tap tail connection, or a washing machine hose can run for a week into a kitchen or bathroom cabinet without being visible on the floor. Lift any items stored under sinks, check the trap connections, supply hoses, and isolation valves visually for any sign of dampness or staining. Check the washing machine and dishwasher inlet hoses — these are under mains pressure when the appliances are off and are a common source of slow leaks.

## 5. Record the water meter reading

In particular, note your water meter reading before leaving. When you return, check the reading again. If the meter has advanced and you can account for all water used (garden, laundry before leaving), you do not have a leak. If there is unexplained usage, a [leak detection survey](/help-and-advice/how-to-find-a-water-leak) quickly locates the source before it causes structural damage.

---

## If you return to a flood

Consequently, if you return to find a leak or flood has occurred while you were away: turn off the mains stopcock immediately, isolate electricity in affected areas, document the damage with photographs, and call **0333 772 0123** for an emergency plumber. Do not turn the water back on until the cause has been identified and repaired.

For complete guidance, see our article on [what to do when a pipe bursts](/help-and-advice/what-to-do-when-a-pipe-bursts).