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It’s not every day a homeowner needs to turn off the water to the house using the main water control valve. Some homeowners might not know its location, which can be a big problem if there is a leak, the water lines freeze, or a pipe bursts. Homeowners need to know how to locate and operate the main shut-off valve so they can quickly turn off the water in an emergency. Turning off the water to the entire home will also stop the flow of water into the water heater.
What should I do if I turn off the water supply and smell gas?
If a screwdriver doesn’t work, you may need to get a “meter key,” which is sold at most hardware stores. To turn the water supply off, give a gate valve a few turns clockwise until you can’t turn it any further. In most cases, you won’t need any additional tools to turn off the main water shut-off valve. Locate and mark your main control valve and show everyone in the house how to turn off water in an emergency.
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Open Water Taps
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If you haven't used the oblong knob for some time, it could lock itself. But if it doesn't, be sure to contact your water utility company. If it has been a long time since you have closed or opened the water valve, it may be difficult to get it to turn.
Q. What if my main water valve is stuck?
Next, turn the curb key 90 degrees to turn off the water to the home. In some cases, you need to rotate the curb key several times to shut off the flow of water, similar to closing a gate 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.
Once the valve is in this position, you'll go for the temperature and pressure relief valve, located at the top section of your boiler. Open it to release the pressure off the boiler, and this will stop the leak. The valve may either be in the basement, near the wall or close to the street. If your home is more modern, the water meter may be on the outside wall of your house. But if you reside in a flat, you'll find yours outside your apartment or in a shared metering cupboard. Having water simply pour out of faucets throughout your home is a modern luxury that most people don’t give a second thought.
Main Shutoff Valve
This can make it difficult to turn off the water supply in case of an emergency or repair. Another tip to avoid frozen plumbing is to turn the heat down to 60 degrees F when you leave, but not lower. You want to keep things warm enough inside the house so that water pipes running through exterior walls don’t freeze and burst.
You’ll need to call your water department (and possibly pay a small fee) to have the water to your house turned off at the curb stop while you make the repair. The key to shutting down the water to your home is to locate the main water shutoff valve. In colder environments, shutoff valves are typically located at the front of the house, street side, or in the basement.
Strategies to avoid flushing away water and money
Please note that the external stop tap belongs to your local water supplier and you may need to seek permission to operate the external stop tap even in an emergency. If you do turn off the external stop tap in an emergency you may need to seek permission from your water supplier to turn it back on. Not all water suppliers will give permission to use the external stop tap and if you do operate it and cause damage then you may be liable for repairs. In the worst case, a water heater rusts through, and you end up with water everywhere.
If you turn off the water supply and have no water pressure, you should call a professional plumber to fix the problem. Yes, you can turn off the water supply to a specific fixture, such as a toilet or sink, by turning the valve near the fixture clockwise until it stops. Turning off the water supply can cause a buildup of pressure in the pipes, which can damage them over time. This is especially true in areas with extreme temperatures or water pressure. A frost-proof faucet stops the water far inside the warm house to prevent freezing.
Outdoor faucets are at high risk for freezing and bursting when the temperature drops outside. So always close the supply shutoff valve inside the house before you leave the house and even when you’re not using the faucet during the winter. This is normally out by the street, often in a concrete box just below ground level.
This is also a good way to ensure that you did actually shut the water off properly, and that the valves are working correctly. Every home is a little bit different in the placement of its water supply shut-off. Your plumbing appliances each may have their own shut-offs, but there will also be at least one additional shut-off for your whole home. This might be located on a lower floor or basement or on the outside of your home.
These valves are located along the main branch pipes and located in accessible utility areas. Sometimes the kitchen shut off valve fails to turn off the water completely. In this case, you'll proceed to the main shut off valve serving the entire house. You'll find this at the point where the city's main water line links with the house piping system or at the meter. Begin with the boiler, which has a warm pipe leading out and another bypassing the heater.
To do this, hold the bottom of the valve securely in your hand, and tap the top of it gently with a hammer several times to try to break up the rust or corrosion. If you know where the pipes are frozen, you can attempt to thaw them with a hair dryer. Using a low heat setting, wave the warm air back and forth along the pipe. This summer, Dolly Ludden of St. Paul, Minnesota, has been running her dishwasher and washing machine only when they're full.
So if there's no incoming water pressure, there'll be no outlet for water pressure. So shutting down the water supply shouldn't cause catastrophic damage or failure to your system. Secure the wrench on the valve just below the handle and twist it clockwise. When ready to try to turn the wrench, make sure to hold the pipe next to the valve to avoid breaking the pipe before the valve loosens up. To locate a water shutoff valve on the outside of your home, start by looking along the ground on the side of your home that faces the street. Also check around the corners on this side of the home to see if you can find it.
Digital radio services Pandora and Spotify offer shower playlists that serve as timers. Turn off the water while shampooing and lathering, then turn it back on to rinse. Some properties share a water supply pipe and external stop tap. If you're on a shared supply, remember that turning off the external stop tap will shut off the water supply to all the properties on the same supply. You'll need to let your neighbours know before you shut off their supply so that you can complete your work.
Rotate the circular handle on a gate valve clockwise until the valve cannot turn any further to turn off the water to your house. The valve might be difficult to move if it hasn’t been used in a while. Use adjustable pliers or a pipe wrench to gently encourage the valve to rotate, but don’t apply so much pressure that you break the handle or the valve stem. Rotate the circular handle on a gate valve clockwise until it cannot turn any further to turn off the water to the house.
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