How to Find a Shut Off Valve
Whether you need to shut off the water to perform a household repair or a water pipe has burst during a winter freeze, it's important to know where the shut-off valves are for your home. A delay in shutting off the water from a burst pipe could result in extensive water damage. In addition to knowing where your water shut-off valves are, you should also make sure that everyone in your home knows how to shut off the gas and electricity during an emergency. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Look near the plumbing fixture. You will usually find an isolated shut-off valve under your sink or behind your toilet tank that will stop the water flow only to that fixture. This is handy when you simply need to work on a single fixture, such as removing a clog in the drain or fixing a leaky toilet. Locate the valve and turn it to the right to stop the water flow. When you have completed your repair, turn the valve to the left to open it again.
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Locate your main water valve. Most homes are on some type of municipal water system, such as a city sewer or a town well. This means that there is a water meter located near the street that a city worker reads every month to determine your usage for billing. You will usually find the water meter and shut-off valve together, located under an access panel on the edge of the street in front of your house. Open the panel door and you will see the valve. Normally you will need a pipe wrench to turn on and off the water. These types of valves require only a quarter turn to shut off the water. If a pipe wrench is not required, then you will see a handle of some kind to turn the valve on and off.
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Find localized shut off valves. Several other shut-off valves are likely in your home that will turn off the water only to certain sections. You can usually find an exterior valve where the main water source enters your home. If you live somewhere where it snows, this is probably located in your basement or other protected area. If you have a basement or crawlspace, you may find other shut off valves there that stop the water from going to the kitchen, for example, while still allowing it to the bathrooms. You will also find shut-off valves on your hot water heater, washing machine and dishwasher.
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Tips & Warnings
You should open and close all of your shut-off valves at least once per year to stop them from rusting or becoming stuck.
