How Do I Shut Off The Main Water Line Valve In My House?
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When water starts gushing uncontrollably into your home, it is undoubtedly hazardous, unsafe, and can cause significant flood damage to the home’s interior. In this case, you cannot stop water from coming inside due to natural calamities. But if water is coming from your home water supply, you can shut it down quickly with the help of the mainline valve of your home.
That means in case of plumbing emergencies or issues, it is always a good idea to educate yourself on how to turn off the main water line valve. So that whenever your home faces the issue of water damage, you can take action quickly and stop the water which can damage your property. Now the question is, what are the leading causes of water damage in-home or business?
Some of the common causes of water damage in the home are: –
- Severe weather
- Clogged gutters
- Washing machine water supply line leak
- Leaking pipes
- Blocked drains
- Condensation from AC
- Leaking water heater
- Malfunctioning sprinkler systems
Indeed, you cannot prevent water damage, but you can take precautions to prevent it. For that, address all the possible causes listed above, and after that, there are fewer chances of water damage.
But here the question is, what if you don’t know the location of the main water valve? However, many individuals don’t know from where they can shut off the main water supply of the entire house. If you want to hold the situation as soon as possible, you must know the location of the mainline valve and how to shut it off.
Where Is The Main Water Shutoff Valve Located?
Well, this question is essential, or you can say a million-dollar question. Every home’s main water shutoff valve is located in several different areas. For example, if you live in a home with a basement and crawlspace, the location of the main valve is on an interior wall near the front of the house. It is the place from where the water comes to the entire house.
Moreover, if your home is built on a slab, the main valve may be located near the hot water heater or inside the garage. Additionally, if you can’t find the valve inside your home, it can be near the end of your property line in a covered box in a pit. It is a cement box buried in the ground near the front curb, which you can open with a meter key.
When you try to open a box, be careful as sometimes small critters, bugs, and various other surprises await you. However, if you cannot find the main water line valve, it is wise to hire a trusted emergency plumbing service in San Diego.
Valves In Unusual Places
If you live in older homes, it becomes quite trickier to find the main valve of the water supply. So, in this case, you must check the inspection report you received when you purchased the home. Moreover, if you don’t find the report, perform the home inspection yourself. For this, look around the water heater, around the foundation wall, under the kitchen sink, etc.
While searching, if you find the access panel, which is not an electrical box, that’s the water shut-off valve. Or you can keep your eye on pipes that have wheel or lever handles.
How To Turn Off The Main Water Line Valve Of Your House?
Let’s start taking steps to switch off the main water line valve:
1. Locate The Mainline Valve
The water main shutoff valve of your house can be in different places, depending on the home’s age and climate. The main valve is a gate valve that looks like a circular spigot or a ball valve with a lever-style handle.
2. Turn Off The Water
To turn off the main water supply, turn a gate valve clockwise several times until it stops. For ball valves, turn the lever 90 degrees clockwise.
3. Run The Taps
Once you turn off the main water supply, relieve the pressure from the pipes by draining the water already in them. Open a faucet at the lowest level of your home and run both hot and cold taps until they run dry.
4. Turn The Water Supply Back
Once you hire an emergency plumber in San Diego for the repair and it is completed, turn on the main water supply by twisting the valve counterclockwise. To ensure the valve is functioning, turn on faucets and wait a few minutes until water flows normally.
How To Shut Off Water To Plumbing Fixtures?
Homes built since the 1950s often have individual shut-off valves that allow you to stop water to specific fixtures without shutting off the entire house supply. Here’s how to shut off water to different fixtures.
- Look for plastic stop valves under the sink or two chrome-plated stop valves at the back of the cabinet. They connect to the water supply tubes feeding the faucet.
- If you need to turn off a single-handle faucet, you may have to turn off both supply valves. Turn the valves clockwise to shut them off.
How To Shut Off The Water To A Toilet?
- A toilet has one single cold water valve, known as a stop valve.
- Locate the stop valve and shut it off by turning the handle clockwise.
- If the valve is hard to turn by hand, try using a glove or grip the handle with slip-joint pliers.
How To Turn Off The Cold Water Supply To A Water Heater?
If you want to shut off the water heater supply, first turn off the cold water valve above the heater. It may have a lever or a circular handle. Turn the lever 90 degrees from the open position, or turn the circular valve clockwise.
The Bottom Line
These are some ways to locate the mainline valve and shut it off. If you cannot follow the do-it-yourself approach, you can contact 24/7 emergency services in San Diego from EZ Plumbing USA.
They are bonded, insured, and licensed plumbing contractors who are highly experienced and qualified. Their services are affordable, ensuring your investment is worthwhile. The professionals will inspect your home and detect plumbing issues that may cause future problems.
