Stop a plumbing emergency in it's tracks!
Do you know where your main water shut off is? Turning this valve off stops the water supply to the entire house! Make sure that everyone in the household knows where it is and how to turn it off in case of a plumbing emergency.
The most common areas to look are next to your hot water heater, under the stairs, in a crawl space, or sometimes under a bathroom sink (in mobile homes).
Your home will have one of these two types of valves.
Ball valve: Houses with plastic or copper main water pipes leading into the house may have a full-flow ball valve. This valve is open when the handle is aligned with the pipe. To close it, turn the handle clockwise 1/4 turn so that it's at a right angle to the pipe.
Gate valve: The proper way to close a gate valve is to gently turn the handle counter-clockwise (to the right) without applying excessive force – do not 'jerk' the handle. A typical 1″ main control valve for a water line will take about six full turns to fully close . Stop turning as soon as there is any resistance.
If your leak is at a localized source, before shutting your main water off try to cut of water close to the source.
Toilet: Look under the toilet, against the wall. You will see flexible metal tubing. Turn the handle clockwise until the handle stops. Do not force.
Sink: Look under the sink cabinet. You will see two sets of flexible metal tubing. Turn clockwise.
Clothes Washer: Some houses have the valves clearly exposed above and behind the washer. Turn both valves clockwise. If you do not see these valves, slide the washer outward and you will likely see them.
If you have any questions or find yourself in an emergency situation we are here to help! Give us a call here at Service First Tradeworks (250) 832-5558 or (250) 675-3668.
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