As a homeowner, you need to know how to shut off the water supply to your home and to the individual fixtures. Everyone living in your home should know this simple task to avoid expensive water damage repairs in the event of a line break or leak.
How To Shut Off The Water To The Whole House
If there is a pipe break, water leak or water heater leak, you should shut off the water coming into your home. That way you can save a lot of money that would have been wasted with home repairs after water damage. When shutting off the water coming into your home, you should use the shut off valves located on the main water lines.
The first shut-off valve is located where the water gets into the house in the basement or a crawl space on the outside wall near the front part of your home. It might also be located in the garage or near the water heater if your home is built on a slab. You can turn it off manually by turning the valve handle clockwise.
Watch this video to see how to find and turn off your home’s main water supply valve…
There is a second shut-off valve which is located on the water meter itself. You need a special key or a pair of channel locks to shut it off. In some cases, you will find a third shut-off valve often located in a box usually buried underground near the water meter. It is located on the edge of your property close to the street. If there is a leak in your home, you might be forced to shut off the third water valve located here.
It’s easy to turn off these valves with your own hand. However, in most cases you need that special key or a pair of channel locks to turn it off completely. If you don’t know where your water shut-off valve is located or don’t have the right tools for the job, you can seek professional help. You should contact your local water department or a local plumber to shut off the water valve for you.
How To Shut-off The Water Valve To An Individual Fixture
If there is a single fixture leaking in your home, you can find the individual shut-off valve for the hot and cold water lines. After getting into your home, the main water line branches into smaller lines to every water fixture inside your home. each of the individual supply lines come with a shut off valve known as a stop.
You need to know where the shut-off valve is located when a leak or fixture is damaged so you can cut off the water supply very fast. It’s the best way to reduce the water damage likely to happen in such occasions.
Shut-off Valve Maintenance
Don’t forget to check the individual stop lines besides the waterlines. You should do this once every year. Make sure every valve opens and closes easily. It will also keep them from sticking when you need to use the valves when a leak happens. If one of the valves is leaking or sticking, call a professional plumber to fix it immediately. Don’t attempt to do it on your own without the relevant expertise.