Leaky pipes are common in homes, and when this happens, the homeowner needs to know how to shut off the water to their home to prevent an even bigger plumbing catastrophe.
Sink or Washer Water Shutoff Valve
When faced with a plumbing emergency, you want to be able to quickly turn the water off to prevent even more damage. However, many are not sure how to do this. When you have a leak, this typically means that the water traveling through the pipes will also be under pressure, so you need to act fast.
If you have a leaky pipe under the sink, then the shutoff is usually located next to where the pipes are under the sink. It is often a plastic or chrome-plated valve. Turn it counter-clockwise to shut off the water. If it sticks and you are having trouble turning it off, you should grab a pair of pliers for more leverage.
The Main Water Valve
If you can’t find the shutoff valve near the fixtures you need to shut off, then it is time to move on to the main water valve for the home. This will shut off the water to the entire house. The shutoff valve is usually located near where the cold water pipes entering the home are located. In many cases, the valve is red in color, round, and can be turned clockwise to shut off the water.
When shutting off the water with the main valve, never try to control the amount of water that is going into the home. The valve needs to be completely on or completely off at all times, never in between.
Now that you have the water shut off to the home, you can then call in the Plumbing Emergency Rescue experts to come in and assess the plumbing in your Long Island home. Plumbing emergencies are no joke and can be catastrophic if not dealt with immediately.
Don’t wait to address the problem and what caused your plumbing emergency in the first place.