Why Knowing Your Water Shut-Off Valves' Positions Can Preserve Your Home
Why Knowing Your Water Shut-Off Valves' Positions Can Preserve Your Home
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The plumbing system of your house is an intricate network of pipes and also shut-off valves. The latter is made use of to regulate the water's flow into the pipes throughout the whole residence. In the event of an emergency, you can cut the water making use of the valves. This protects against comprehensive water damages from taking place.
Why Must I Fret about This?
Your washroom sink is damaged, so you can readily find the shut-off valve below the sink. For major leakages, you have to shut the mainline shut-off shutoff.
The longer you wait to shut the shut-off valve, the extra extensive the damage will certainly be. You might not have sufficient time to figure out how to shut the shutoffs when you're stressing amidst an emergency.
What Does the Shut-Off Shutoff Appear Like?
This is typically a knob that allows you to shut off the water for a specific device, a local area (for example the entire second flooring), or for the whole residential property. It is vital to recognize where these shutoffs are, so when something surface in any area of your residence, you can shut it as soon as possible. This will help you stay clear of considerable water damage that will certainly cost thousands to repair.
Where are These Situated?
Your finest bet is to call a water repair solutions business for guidance. If you have a relatively moderate-sized home, attempt looking for a handle or lever.
It must be indicated in those papers if you have a residence inspection record from when you purchased your building. If you constructed it from scratch, it ought to be in the plans. Commonly, contractors set up the shutoffs near or within the major, ground-floor bathrooms. The shutoffs are intended to be noticeable, some choose to camouflage them for aesthetic reasons.
When to Call a Specialist?
Should the aforementioned be the case for your localized valves, you have no other choice but to shut off the main water line, cutting the source of water in your whole home. Call the plumber to check the issue as well as closed off the shutoff in that area only so you can use the rest of the plumbing in various other locations of your house.
Remember, these shutoffs are lifesavers and crucial for any type of plumbing repair. In the occasion of a plumbing emergency, shut down these shutoffs to prevent difficulties that call a respectable water damage repair service provider.
The plumbing system of your residence is an elaborate network of pipes and shut-off shutoffs. In the occasion of an emergency, you can cut the water making use of the valves. The longer you wait to shut the shut-off shutoff, the much more comprehensive the damages will be. It is important to recognize where these valves are, so when something crops up in any type of location of your house, you can shut it right away. In the occasion of a plumbing emergency, closed down these valves to prevent difficulties that call a credible water damage reconstruction company.
How to Find and Shut Off Main Water Shutoff Valve
In case of a plumbing emergency, it is always a good idea to educate yourself on how (and where) to turn off your main water supply – as well as the isolation valves on your various plumbing fixtures. A ruptured line, burst pipe, or sewage backup can wreak havoc on your home and potentially cost you thousands in water damage and water bills.
In severe cold weather, the water in your pipes can freeze. When water freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe, not matter how thick or strong it may be. Learn how to prevent frozen pipes here; but, if it’s too late and the pipe has already burst, turn off your main water valve as fast as you can to prevent further damages.
Being able to contain the situation as soon as possible will greatly help with damage control and allow a wider window of time for help to arrive (if the situation calls for it). Everyone in your home should know exactly where the water shutoff valve is located and how to turn it off.
Additionally, if you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, it is highly recommended that you turn off the main water valve.
Where is the main water shutoff valve located?
This is the million-dollar question. Your main water shutoff valve could be located in several different areas. If you have a home with a basement and crawlspace, it is probably located on an interior wall near the front of the house, where the water comes in from the water meter. In this case, it is most likely hiding in plain sight. If your home was built on a slab, the valve might be located near the hot water heater or inside your garage.
If the valve can’t be found inside the home, the next location to check is near the end of your property line (or street) in a covered box within a “pit” underground. This is normally a cement box buried in the ground near your front curb; however, you may need a special “meter key” (available at local hardware stores, like Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, and Home Depot) to open the box.
Once you fit the meter key into the “lock,” turn it counter-clockwise, and then tilt the key toward the outer edge of the box to lift the lid open. Be careful when opening the box. Sometimes, small critters, reptiles, bugs, and other surprises are waiting for you.
How to Turn Off Main Water Valve
Once you find the shutoff valve you will either hand turn it (clockwise for gate valves and perpendicular to the pipe for ball valves) or use the appropriate tool depending on the design.
WARNING: old water valves can be damaged and corroded. Only use your hand to turn your water valves on or off. If you cannot do it by hand, call a professional plumber.
Where are the isolation valves?
Isolation shutoff valves are much easier to locate. Most essential home plumbing fixtures have separate valves that control the water flow. Sinks, toilets, water heaters, and washing machines should have a small valve located near the plumbing that can easily shut off the individual water supply.
Simply turning the valve clockwise will turn off the water flow. Sink and toilet problems can be dealt with quickly by simply shutting off the supply this way. It’s always good to test the isolation valves periodically to make sure they are working properly.
Again, once your tighten the water shutoff valves and turn off the water, open up your hot and cold lines to release pressure and test if the water is indeed off.
Make it a priority to locate the water valves in your home – and keep plumbing problems from turning into costly repair situations.
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