Finding the water shutoff valves is one of the most important tasks you should complete when you first move into a home.
Finding the water shutoff valves is one of the most important tasks you should complete when you first move into a home. It doesn’t matter if it is a custom home built especially for you or one that was previously inhabited but has now been empty for several months or even years. Either way, here is a useful guide for you!
Looking at the Valves
Take a minute to think about where the main water line enters your home. Wherever the main water line leading into your house is, that’s probably where the shutoff valve is located as well. It could run directly to the washing machine in the laundry room, or maybe by the water heater. Regardless of where it is, you will want to make sure the valve works. The other valves around it should also work, in case you need to turn the water off because of a flood. You can close these valves by rotating them. At least, many valves work this way. Steel ball valves are the easiest to turn and because of that, they are the ones used most often for main shutoff valves.
Shutting Them Off
Now that you know where to find the valve, the next step involves actually controlling it. You need to know which valve you need to shut off, especially so you don’t turn off the wrong one. The valve under the sink will be different than the one for the toilet in the bathroom. It’s easy to use the valves under the kitchen sink. There is also a valve behind the toilet that is pretty self-explanatory. But the valve in the basement is much trickier to find. If you can’t find the valves, then it’s time to call a plumber that you can trust! That way, you can ensure that no accidents or mistakes will deprive you of your steady water supply! Just remember that there should be one valve for hot water and another for cold.
A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST
Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.
For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.