Help Me Now urges holiday travelers to shut off water before leaving home

Bellevue-based Help Me Now is warning Puget Sound homeowners that a simple shut-off-valve check could help prevent costly water damage during Thanksgiving and winter travel. The reminder comes as insurance data show water losses are among the most common and expensive home claims in the U.S.

Why it matters: - Water damage is one of the most frequent home insurance losses, and holiday travel can leave leaks undetected for days. - A burst supply line or failed water heater can release hundreds of gallons of water an hour in an empty house. - Damage can spread quickly to flooring, drywall and cabinetry, with repair bills that can include buckled hardwood, collapsed ceilings and early mold growth. - The Insurance Information Institute says about 1 in 60 insured U.S. homes files a water damage or freezing claim each year. - The average water damage claim from 2019 to 2023 was about $15,400.

What happened: - Bellevue home services marketplace Help Me Now is urging Puget Sound homeowners to shut off the main water valve before leaving for Thanksgiving and winter holidays. - The company is also promoting a 30-second pre-travel shut-off valve check for homeowners heading out of town. - Georgiy Kharchenko of Help Me Now said the holidays are when the worst water losses happen because no one is home to catch a leak.

The details: - In most Puget Sound homes, the main shut-off valve is where the water line enters the house, usually in the garage, basement or crawl space, near the water heater, or in a meter box near the street. - Homeowners should turn the valve clockwise until it stops, then open a faucet to confirm the water is off. - Homeowners should keep the heat on and set it to at least 55°F to help protect pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces. - If the main valve cannot be shut off, homeowners should close the supply valves to the washing machine, dishwasher and icemaker. - Homeowners should test the sump pump and clear gutters and downspouts before heavy rain. - Homeowners should ask a neighbor or friend to check the home every few days while they are away. - Cold snaps add to the risk in the Pacific Northwest, where many homes have plumbing in crawl spaces and exterior walls.

Between the lines: - Help Me Now is tying a low-cost prevention step to a high-cost insurance problem, which makes the warning easy for homeowners to act on before traveling. - The timing also matches a seasonal risk window in the Pacific Northwest, where freezing temperatures and heavy rain can expose weak points in home plumbing and drainage. - The message is simple: a brief check before departure can reduce the odds of returning to major repairs.

What's next: - If water gets in, restoration professionals advise acting within 24 to 48 hours before mold can begin to grow. - Homeowners should shut off the water source, turn off electricity to affected areas if it is safe, photograph the damage for the insurance claim and contact a licensed water damage professional. - Help Me Now says it connects homeowners in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties with licensed, bonded and insured water damage professionals around the clock, including holidays. - The service is available at (425) 279-7097 and HelpMeNow.com.

The bottom line: - A shut-off valve check before holiday travel could help Puget Sound homeowners avoid one of the costliest and most common home insurance claims.