How To Find The Main Water Line To Your House

In case of a plumbing emergency, information technology is ever a practiced thought to educate yourself on how (and where) to plough off your main h2o supply – as well equally the isolation valves on your various plumbing equipment. A ruptured line, burst piping, or sewage backup can wreak havoc on your dwelling house and potentially cost yous thousands in water damage and h2o bills.

In severe cold weather, the water in your pipes tin freeze. When water freezes, it expands and can flare-up the pipe, non matter how thick or stiff information technology may exist. Learn how to prevent frozen pipes here; but, if it's too tardily and the pipe has already burst, turn off your main h2o valve as fast as you tin to forestall further damages.

Being able to contain the situation equally shortly 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). Anybody in your home should know exactly where the h2o shutoff valve is located and how to turn information technology off.

Additionally, if you lot are going to be abroad from your dwelling for an extended period of time, it is highly recommended that you plow off the main water valve.

Where is the primary water shutoff valve located?

This is the million-dollar question. Your main water shutoff valve could be located in several unlike areas. If y'all have a home with a basement and crawlspace, it is probably located on an interior wall near the front of the firm, where the water comes in from the h2o meter. In this case, information technology is well-nigh likely hiding in plainly sight. If your home was built on a slab, the valve might be located near the hot water heater or within your garage.

interior main water shutoff vlave

Master h2o shutoff valve to the house. Photo Credit: Aaron Stickley

Source: about.com

WARNING: Never touch the pressure regulator, located just higher up the shutoff valve. Only a licensed plumber should adjust your water pressure.

If the valve can't be found within the home, the next location to check is nigh the cease of your property line (or street) in a covered box within a "pit" underground. This is ordinarily a cement box buried in the ground near your front curb; however, yous may need a special "meter key" (available at local hardware stores, like Ace Hardware, Lowe'southward, and Home Depot) to open the box.

Once yous fit the meter cardinal into the "lock," plow it counter-clockwise, and and then tilt the key toward the outer edge of the box to elevator the lid open up. Be careful when opening the box. Sometimes, pocket-size critters, reptiles, bugs, and other surprises are waiting for you lot.

open water meter box

In some cases, all you demand to open the water meter box is a long screwdriver.

Source: smarthomewaterguide.org

Once you have located, opened, and cleared abroad whatsoever dirt or droppings, information technology will probably look something similar this:

reading your water meter

Close off the water by turning the ball valve 1/4 turn to make it perpendicular to the water pipe. If the ball valve is parallel, it is ON; if it is perpendicular (xc° angle), information technology is OFF.

Source: wsscwater.com

The water meter should also be able to tell you if you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your abode. Learn how to read your h2o meter and conduct a DIY leak detection examination here.

Alarm:do Not tamper with the city close-off side or the meter itself. It is illegal to tamper with, obstruct access to, or remove a water meter. Be very conscientious, and if you lot take any doubts at all, phone call your local plumber or utility visitor.

If you are nonetheless unable to locate your valve, your trusted local plumber or utility company should exist able to tell you where it is. Also, if you still have your property inspection report, y'all should be able to discover the surface area of the certificate that shows you lot where your principal water shutoff valve is located.

How to Turn Off Master H2o 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 utilise the appropriate tool depending on the design.

Warning: former water valves tin be damaged and corroded. Only use your hand to turn your water valves on or off. If you cannot practise it by hand, phone call a professional person plumber.

Ball & Gate Valves

ball and gate plumbing valves

Ball Valve Shutoff

how to turn off ball valve

Source: waterheatertimer.com

If it is located inside your firm, it will most likely be a gate or "cycle" valve that you'll simply turn clockwise to stop the flow of water. Another way to shut off the h2o is to go to the water meter box. Simply be careful non to mess with the metropolis shutoff side of the meter.

Watch this video to learn how to locate your master water valve, examination for leaks, and plough it off if necessary:

After y'all successfully turn the water off, it's important to release force per unit area from your pipes by turning on the hot and cold faucets in your dwelling house.

Where are the isolation valves?

Isolation shutoff valves are much easier to locate. Almost essential home plumbing fixtures have split valves that control the water flow. Sinks, toilets, h2o heaters, and washing machines should take a modest valve located nearly the plumbing that can easily shut off the individual water supply.

water heater shutoff valve Hot water shutoff valve. Photograph Credit: Aaron Stickley

faucet water shutoff valve Faucet shutoff valves. Photo Credit: Aaron Stickley

Source: about.com

Simply turning the valve clockwise volition turn off the water flow. Sink and toilet issues can be dealt with chop-chop by but shutting off the supply this way. It's ever adept to exam the isolation valves periodically to make sure they are working properly.

Again, once your tighten the water shutoff valves and plow 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 h2o valves in your home – and proceed plumbing problems from turning into costly repair situations.

If y'all have any further questions about locating and shutting off your chief water valve, don't hesitate to contact Hiller Plumbing, your local plumbing specialists.

The all-time fashion to maintain a healthy plumbing system is to have periodic maintenance checks conducted by a professional. Your licensed plumber will be able to conduct a full inspection of your plumbing organization to identify potential risks before they turn into costly problems.

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