Turn Off The Main Water Valve! Wait?! Where Is That????
If you are having a plumbing emergency in your home, such as a pipe leaking behind the wall or a burst pipe, the first thing that a plumber will tell you to do is to shut off your main water valve. It is highly recommended that you take the time to find your main water valve before you ever need to shut it off. This ensures that the water supply to your home can be turned off as quickly as possible in an emergency. But if you have no idea where it is and you need to shut it off now, here are a few tips to guide you toward the location of the main water valve in your house:
Know What It Looks Like
Before you can even begin to look for the main water valve, you need to know what you are looking for. Unfortunately, the main water valve can look different depending on the age of your home and the location of the valve. Some may be near your water meter, while others are connected to your incoming water lines. They can either have a circular knob that is turned to open or close the line or a switch valve that is lowered or raised to open the line. If you see a valve connected to plumbing lines that seem to lead into your home, you are likely looking at the main water valve.
Look Around the Perimeter Of Your Home
More often than not, the water shut-off valve is located around the perimeter of your home. This may include the exterior of your home or even the garage. Very rarely is the main water valve located inside of your actual home. As such, you want to take some time to walk around the perimeter of your house or garage area looking for the main water valve.
Where Else to Look
If you have walked around the perimeter of your home and the garage and still can't find the valve, it is time to get creative. If you live in a home that has a basement, your shut-off valve may be housed in the basement. Be sure to check there. If you live in an older home with a crawl space, your valve may be housed there. If you have a slab on grade construction, the shut-off valve may not be around the perimeter of your home. In this case, check by your water heater or under the main sink in your kitchen. It is important to note that a water shut-off valve will never be above the main living floor in your home, so you do not have to check the attic or second story of a home.
The main water valve can be located in various places throughout your home and can vary from one home to another. As such, it is important to take the time to locate this valve before you encounter an emergency that causes you to need to shut it off right away. If you are having trouble locating the valve, contact a plumbing service. They can help you find it, ensuring you know where it is in the event of an emergency.
Contact a company like R Acres Plumbing Company LLC for more information and assistance.