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If you can’t find the shutoff valve or have a plumbing emergency, you can turn off the water supply from the water meter valve. The water meter valve is usually located in a box near the street or alley. There are many reasons why you may need to shut off your water supply, such as plumbing emergencies, repairs, renovations, or when going on vacation.
How to Turn Off Water Main Supply At Street Level
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If the main shut-off valve is stuck or seized, you can attempt to loosen it with a set of channel locks or a pipe wrench. Just keep in mind that if you apply too much pressure to the valve, you can break the handle or the stem. In some cases, even if you use a wrench or pliers you will not be able to get the valve moving again. At this point, it’s recommended to call a plumber to replace the valve.
What should I do if I can’t find the shutoff valve?
In warmer climates, shutoff valves are located outside on an exterior wall, in a box underground with a removable lid, or on a wall protected by an access panel. A good place to locate your main water valves is to read the property inspection report, which will detail the location most of the time. Also, some shutoff valves are located close to a property line or in front of the home, at a curb stop (in some older homes). After a pipe burst, panic quickly follows, and you may not have the time to look for the specific shutoff valve.
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Avoid watering when it's windy because the droplets drift off course, he adds. If you use a hose to water, make sure it has a shut-off nozzle, a small part you can add to a hose to prevent water overflow. Many external stop taps are in the highway, so you may need to be aware of road traffic and ensure that you do not create a hazard.
If the plumbing looks to be in good condition, proceed with operating the valve. Turning off the water to the home when the shut-off valve is located inside the house is usually straightforward. Start by locating the main shut-off valve on the main water line. The valve is often in the basement, close to where the main water line enters the home, although it may also be in a crawlspace or utility room. In the basement, the valve is typically positioned around eye level; in a main-floor utility area, it is installed closer to the floor. Some homes are equipped with branch valves that shut off the water supply to selected lines in the home.
Generally, you'll find it below the kitchen sink, right where the water supply enters your house. It may also be in an underground section in your backyard or garden. The first step is going to be to locate the main water valve in your home.
Things You'll Need to Turn Off the Water Supply
If you find that you cannot get the valve to twist shut, try one or more of the following things to get your valve to move. Wear some clothes more than once and run the washer only when it's full. Adjust the washer to the size of the load to use less water (some new machines do this automatically). Consider buying an Energy Star washing machine, which uses 33 percent less water than other models. Regularly check sprinkler heads to make sure they're working properly and aren't leaking, which can waste hundreds of gallons a day. Install a smart sprinkler system with soil-moisture and rain sensors or add those features to your existing system.
Step 2: Turn the main water shut-off valve clockwise.
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. When the water is off to the home, it cannot refill the toilet tank. 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.
Turning off the water supply should take only a few minutes if the valves are easily accessible. So before you leave for a vacation, take a walk around the house and check your gutters. Check to see if leaves, sticks or other debris are blocking the inlet of the downspout and preventing water from flowing down the spout. Also make sure your downspout extensions are discharging the water far enough from the foundation. If you remove them while you mow the yard, make sure to immediately reattach them.
Once the valve is turned off, open a few faucets to drain the remaining water from the pipes. 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’ve never shut off the main water valve before, test it before you leave on vacation. You’ll need an adjustable wrench, a bucket and slip joint pliers. Turn on a faucet somewhere in the house and shut off the main water valve. An old gate valve can break, so be gentle when you’re handling it. If it leaks or doesn’t shut off all the way, have a licensed plumber replace the valve or replace it yourself if you’re comfortable with a straightforward plumbing project.
If the handle on your faucet is level with the pipe, it’s a frost-proof model. Locating the main water shut-off valve sounds like a really easy process, but it can actually be a real challenge. If you’ve recently had a home inspection, the location should be noted in the paperwork, which will certainly cut the time down it takes to hunt it up.
In this case, the best way to restrict the water supply is to find the main exterior shutoff, usually located on the outside wall, the basement, or the utility room. Unlike the other shutoff valves, this one comes with both open and closed positions, but you'll turn the gate valves several times to close it entirely. The water main shut-off valve could be in a number of places, depending on the age of your home and the climate of your location. Valves can sometimes be buried inside drywall or behind the furnace.
Bathrooms can account for about half of all indoor home water use. Regularly inspect your pipes, faucets, toilets and showerheads for leaks. Turning the valve clockwise will close it, reducing the amount of water passing through. To turn your water back on, simply turn the valve anti-clockwise.Turn it on and off slowly, never force it. If you over tighten or use excessive force you may damage the stop tap.
Cleaning your gutters and making sure they’re functioning properly is one of the most essential tasks to do around the house. Downspouts should discharge water at least 10 ft. from the house. If you don’t already have one, it’s worth adding a backup battery to your sump pump so that it functions during power outages, which seem to go hand-in-hand with heavy rainstorms. Sump pump systems help keep groundwater out of your basement. Before you leave town, test your sump pump by filling the sump pit with water and making sure the pump is actually pumping out the water. If you have a well, shut off the electrical switch for the well when you leave for an extended period so it won’t pump any water while you’re gone.
It will also give you the opportunity to discover any leaks or other problems before they cause any damage. This is an easy maintenance task that will help keep your home’s plumbing functioning for years to come. Many small — and big — changes can ensure water isn't wasted down the drain. In addition, by saving water, you may also save money on your energy bill, since appliances like washing machines use both.
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