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For this reason, it’s recommended to locate and test your main shut-off valve now, instead of scrambling to try to find it when water is pouring into your home from a broken water line. The valve should work properly without you needing to rely on any emergency plumbing tools. If you find that it is seized or that the valve doesn’t completely shut off the water to the home, then you should contact a plumber to replace the valve. But if you don't find the shutoff valve near the affected fixture or appliance, don't worry. You can shut off the water by turning off the main water supply valve near the water meter. Ideally, both the cold and hot water will stop flowing, although sometimes tank-style water heaters may continue to empty indefinitely.
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If the valve is difficult to move, use adjustable pliers to get a better grip, but work slowly and gently to avoid damaging it. With a ball valve, turn the lever 90 degrees so it sits perpendicular to the water line. Before there’s any urgency (or water all over the floor) at your place, consider familiarizing yourself now with how to turn off the water supply. Show family members, too, where the valves are and how to cut them off quickly.
Gate Valve
In some cases, it’s more effective to turn off the water to a single faucet or plumbing fixture instead of shutting down the water to the entire home. Not only does this take less time because you don’t need to drain the water from the whole house, but it also allows you to continue using the plumbing in the rest of the home. The main water shut-off valve, also known as the building control valve, is typically located in one of several common areas. However, emergencies aren’t the only time a homeowner might need to turn off the water. When an old valve needs to be replaced, a faucet leaks, or a toilet needs to be removed, the water must be turned off to avoid flooding the immediate vicinity. Use this guide to learn where to find the main shut-off valve and how to turn off the water in your house.
How to Locate and Turn Off the Main Water Valve
In some cases, even if you use a wrench or pliers you will not be able to get the valve moving again. Chances are there will come a time when you’ll have to turn off the water supply to your home. You may need to do so for a scheduled plumbing repair, or before leaving on a long trip. Then there are the emergency situations, such as when a pipe bursts somewhere behind the drywall or your bathroom is flooded with water, when you’ll need to cut the water off, and fast. Even if repairs or emergencies haven’t come up yet, it’s still important to know where your home’s main water valves are and how they function.
This allows any air in the plumbing lines to exit through the faucet instead of becoming trapped where it can cause water hammer issues. So, if you flush the toilet when the water is off, the water from the tank will empty into the toilet bowl, leaving the tank empty until the water is turned back on. This means that the toilet can be flushed one time, even with the water off, but will not be able to be flushed again until the tank is refilled. After tracking down the valve, do a quick inspection to determine its condition. If the valve is significantly damaged, rusted, or worn, replace it immediately. However, if the valve seems like it’s in good shape, go ahead and test its functionality.
Winter storms: Tips for preparing your house and pipes - Texas Department of Insurance
Winter storms: Tips for preparing your house and pipes.
Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The Best Toilet Flush Valves
Once you have finished making repairs or your plumbing emergency is no longer a problem, turn the water back on by rotating the valve counterclockwise. The faucet that you previously opened will spit out some air as the water fills the pipes throughout the home. Allow a few minutes for the water to force out any air left in the lines, then turn the faucet off again.
This knowledge will make regular maintenance easier, and it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs in a worst-case scenario. If you can’t spot the valve after circling the home a couple of times, it may be in a utility box in the yard. If you cannot locate the valve in the yard, there is a chance that the house doesn’t have a main shut-off valve, so you need to use the emergency curb stop valve to turn off the water to the house. Otherwise, you need to contact the utility directly to have them operate the valve.
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Grip the handle of the valve firmly and apply pressure in the correct direction to turn the valve. Go slow and do your best to avoid squeezing too tightly, applying too much force to the stem, or otherwise damaging the valve. If it remains seized, then you will need to speak to a plumber to have the main valve repaired before proceeding. Some homes are equipped with branch valves that shut off the water supply to selected lines in the home. These valves are located along the main branch pipes and located in accessible utility areas.
Emergency Curb Stop Valve
When you turn the water back on, keep the faucet open to give air trapped in the pipes a place to escape. Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. At this point, you can work on any plumbing project that requires a water shutdown, or you can turn the water back on if you were testing the valve. Make sure to keep the sink tap fully open until after the water has been turned back on.
For instance, if you are replacing the faucet at the kitchen sink, then you can simply turn off the isolation valve located under the sink, instead of draining the water for the whole home. Water meter boxes sometimes have two shutoff valves, one on the customer side and one on the city side of the meter. This should be a last resort because in many communities there are ordinances that frown upon homeowners touching any part of the plumbing system positioned on the street side of the water meter. When a hot water pipe is leaking, or if you need to repair or replace a water heater, there are shutoff valves located near your water heater. Depending on your water heater's setup, you will need to locate the correct valve to turn off. If you notice a blue or yellow shutoff valve feeding the water heater, that is likely the one to shut off but leave the red valve for the hot water alone.
However, it is best to immediately call your HVAC servicing company or your plumber so they can help talk you through which valve to shut off.
Should your plumbing freeze in winter or it spring a leak, you'll have to stop your water supply to make repairs. You'll also need to cut off your water when replacing fixtures, changing pipes, and performing maintenance. For most jobs in-the-home jobs, all you'll need to do is switch off an indoor supply valve. The main shut-off valve to the home stops the flow of water into the home, effectively turning off water completely in the house. Relieve the pressure in the pipes by draining the water that’s already in them.
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