Shut Off Your Home's Water Supply - Lowe's How to Shut Water Off to Your HouseMUST HAVE TOOL! However, there are two types of valves that are commonly used in residential homes as building control valves: gate valves and ball valves. Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. There are several water control valves throughout your house. Water flowing through a partially open gate valve can wear away the metal and cause the valve to fail over time. In this short video tutorial, City of Gresham Field Customer Service representative Eric Hanson. Finding a reliable Plumber in your state doesn't have to be a hassle. If you live in a colder climate, youll typically find the main shutoff in the basement near the front of the house. Keep in mind that you may have separate hose bib valves if you have spigots on either side of your house. Need to turn the water main supply to your house off quickly? If your shutoff valve looks like the one here, a saddle valve, consider replacing it with a standard shutoff valve. So, if you flush the toilet when the water is off, the water from the tank will empty into the toilet bowl, leaving the tank empty until the water is turned back on. During a bigger storm or prolonged periods of precipitation, thats an awful lot of water around the foundation of your home. Turn this valve 45 degrees so it sits parallel to the pipe. In most cases, you wont need any additional tools to turn off the main water shut off valve. Whether youre de-winterizing your home or simply need to turn on or off your outdoor water supply for any reason, you should know how to adjust your homes hose bib. How to shut your water off at the curb - YouTube Downspouts should discharge water at least 10 ft. from the house. However, you should not operate this valve if you are not licensed as a plumber. Find out what you need to know about checking your smoke detectors. Locate Your Water Shut-Off Every home is a little bit different in the placement of its water supply shut-off. Here's a quick tip for you homeowners out there. Typical supply stops have a small round or oval handle that you turn clockwise to shut off the flow of water. If the cover is a security bolt, you can use pliers to pry it out. This requires a special tool to access this valve. There are two types of water shut-off valves for typical city dwellings: the outside water shut-off valve controlled by the city and the one that you can control inside the house. Every home is a little bit different in the placement of its water supply shut-off. All water flow should stop. No one ever wants to see water from a burst pipe filling your home, but sometimes this nerve-wracking event can happen. If your plumbing is all on one level, try the tub faucet and the outside faucet if the weather allows. In a situation of crisis, people will not take the time to find it, so it is important to know where it is before you need it. We recommend our users to update the browser. Before heading inside to look for your water controls, make sure your hose bib is closed. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed plumbers near you. If it leaks or doesnt shut off all the way, have a licensed plumber replace the valve or replace it yourself if youre comfortable with a straightforward plumbing project. Most homes have one or two hose bibsalso known as a spigot, house faucet, outdoor tap, or whatever nickname you've given itto access outdoor water. Ensure that you can create a firm seal between the hose bib opening and the hose to avoid losing water. The pipes are often much longer than standard ones, but it can be tricky to tell the difference at first glance. 4. A main water shutoff valve is a large metal valve that has a lever handle and bulbous section below. To shut off a water heater, turn off the cold water valve above the water heater. Updated September 23, 2019 By Brian G. Learn how to shut off your home's main water supply with these tips from the experts at Lowe's. Table of Contents Indoor Shut-Off Valves Outdoor Shut-Off Valves Indoor Shut-Off Valves In colder regions, the water line may enter through the floor of the foundation where the pipes won't freeze during the winter. Knowing how to shut this valve off will help prevent flood damage. Begin by removing the covers that protected the bib over the winter. Cleaning your gutters and making sure theyre functioning properly is one of the most essential tasks to do around the house. You may need a key, a long-handle wrench, to be able to reach down to the valve and turn the water on and off. 3 Ways to Quickly Locate the Water Shut Off Valve Find the Water Shut Off Valve on the Inside Perimeter Search for your house's main water shut off valve on the inside of the home. Youll get an alert if the sensor detects a problem. How Do I Turn Off the Water Main Supply to My House? - YouTube This compensation comes from two main sources. Turn on a sink located in the lowest level of your home, so water in the pipes from the floors above drain all the way down. Last but not least, attach your garden hose to the spigot and let the water flow. If you find that it is seized or that the valve doesnt completely shut off the water to the home, then you should contact a plumber to replace the valve. Locating water shut-off valves indoors can be a bit tricky. The location of the valve is usually on the utility wall of the house, but you can also find one on the exterior wall, near the water meter. If the water shut-off valve is outside, it will be buried in a box near the street. How to Shut Off Main Water Supply Valve Without Special Tools If its a gate valve, turn the knob clockwise until it stops. Allow a few minutes for the water to force out any air left in the lines, then turn the faucet off again. Most of these types of valves are located in Ontario Canada and newer built homes around the country. Youll need to contact your municipality to ensure its legal to shut this valve off, as there are some places where its still not allowed except in an extreme emergency. The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances. How Do I Shut Off The Main Water Supply To My Home With This - YouTube Turn your spigot back on in the spring after the threat of freezing temps are behind you, usually from mid-April to early May. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Open a faucet on the lowest level of the home to drain any water remaining in the line. On this channel, it's ALL about plumbing. Before you leave town, test your sump pump by filling the sump pit with water and making sure the pump is actually pumping out the water. If the valve is rusted, aged, significantly worn, or if you spot a leak, then you are better off contacting a plumber to replace it instead of taking a risk on an unreliable valve that may break if you attempt to use it. Your plumbing appliances each may have their own shut-offs, but there. You've learned how to turn off your home's water supply if necessary in an emergency. How Do I Shut Off the Water to My House Without a Tool? Just keep in mind that if you apply too much pressure to the valve, you can break the handle or the stem. Winterize your plumbing system before heading back home for the season. Leave the faucet open while you work. It is often located outside, or in a metal box that is flush with the grass or sidewalk. When to Shut Off Your Homes Water Supply, Instructions for Shutting Off Your Homes Water Supply, Tips for Locating the Main Water Shut-Off Valve, Things You Should Know About DIY Plumbing. You don't want water shooting through the spigot as soon as you switch on the water source, flooding a patch of your yard. How To Shut Off Water To Your House - DIY Plumbing - YouTube If you located the water meter box near the street, you can shut off the water supply from there instead. The valve closest to your house is the one you want. To turn off the water supply from here, you'll need a meter key and/or meter wrench. Some covers have a keyhole; you can use a meter key to open this. Youll 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. All Rights Reserved. It is essential to know where the valves are, and how to turn them.Turn off a valve with a key. If you cant shut off the main water supply because you have an automatic sprinkler system or someone watering the plants while youre gone, shut off the valves to the most common sources of water damage such as dishwashers, icemakers and washing machines. Youll need an adjustable wrench, a bucket and slip joint pliers. If you found the water shut-off valve inside your house, turn it off. Just turn the valve to the right (clockwise) as far as it goes, with a wrench. 3. This video will show you how to locate the water meter, turn the water meter off, and the tools used to shut it off. How Much Does Ethernet Installation Cost? In colder regions the shutoff will be below the frost line, typically at the bottom of a tube covered with a cast-iron cover. Keep the rest of your home covered by an American Home Shield home warranty. If it remains seized, then you will need to speak to a plumber to have the main valve repaired before proceeding. There are pipes running behind your walls and under your floors that direct water to and from your plumbing accessories, such as faucets, toilets, and bathtubs. Learn how to spot the signs of rusty pipes and pipe corrosion, what you can repair yourself, and when it's time to call a professional. Need to turn the water main supply to your house off quickly? The main shutoff valve should have a red or green handle. There are many reasons to turn off the water to your house. Let the water run for about five to 10 minutes, then close the faucet. The shutoff to your refrigerators icemaker supply line might be located under the sink or in the basement. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Unclogging a Drain, Leak Detectors: Your Best Bet to Ward Off Water Woes, 20 Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands, 11 Things Your Contractor Wont Tell You for Free. Hopefully, locating yours is simple, and you can easily find the knob or lever on a border wall. In either case, you can also typically find a shut-off valve in a utility space of the house where the water line enters the home. Since it is not advisable to tamper with the city's . This may be a lever or a regular circular-handle valve. Need professional help with your project? If you don't know where your shut-off valve is, or you don't have the right tool handy, call MAWSS' 2 4 hour customer care line at 251-694-3165. There are many reasons you might need to shut off your homes water supply. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. You should also be able to spot a specific valve for the water hose bib. To ensure its closed, simply turn the handle on your outdoor spigot all the way to the right in a clockwise direction until it stops. 329 72K views 2 years ago Not only is the main water supply valve for a house usually buried underground, the valve usually does not have a handle and it is likely very tight. OUR BEST PLAN IS ALL-IN ON COVERAGE SO YOU CAN LEAVE THE HOME HASSLES TO US. Get plumbing warranty coverage, as well as water heater coverage, with one of our affordable home warranty plans. Also, it prevents water damage and emergencies. American Home Shield, AHS, Be sure with the Shield and the shield logo are registered trademarks of American Home Shield Corporation. Before you head out of town for an extended period of time, its a good idea to shut off the water main, i.e. So before you leave for a vacation, take a walk around the house and check your gutters. Rather than let the water continue spewing out and making the damageand your cost to fix itworse while you wait for the plumber to come, youll want to close your inside main water valve to ensure the water stops flowing. Looking For Experts To Solve Your Plumbing Problems? Also, make sure the outlet pipe isnt frozen or clogged and that it directs water away from your home. If you have a well, shut off the electrical switch for the well when you leave for an extended period so it wont pump any water while youre gone. How to Shut Your Home's Water Off - Plano Magazine Working Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $0 Types of Water Valves Photo: istockphoto.com There are a wide variety of valves that are used in. All water flow should stop. Never leave a hose connected to an outdoor faucet: It traps water in the faucet, which can freeze and crack open the faucet. The valve closes when a wedge-shaped brass gate is lowered into a slot. These are often clearly marked and will sit on the other side of the wall or in the unfinished ceiling of your basement. Keys are usually the same size and type throughout a neighborhood. You can also find it near the exterior wall of your house. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. {{ tocState.toggleTocShowMore ? For some houses, if you want to fix the sprinklers or outdoor water leaks, this is the only option because there are no other valves that can turn off the water. How to Find a Water Shut-off Valve Outside - Mr. Rooter Plumbing Keep in mind that you dont need to turn the water valve off in the warmer months in between uses. RELATED: 10 Plumbing Tips Everyone Needs to Know, Working Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $0. Once youve turned the main water supply off, youll want to release the pressure from the system. These valves are designed for simple manual hand turning, but if you are having trouble turning it or if the valve is completely seized, you may need to use a channel lock wrench or pipe wrench. This is also a good way to ensure that you did actually shut the water off properly, and that the valves are working correctly.