Pop Quiz - Where Are Your Shutoff Valves?

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Do you know where to find the shutoff valves in your home?

Often without warning, you can experience the bane of homeowners everywhere: a burst or leaky pipe, or even a flooding appliance. Maybe it’s a toilet that seeps or a washing machine hose that splits. Maybe it’s a water stain on a wall, indicating a leaking pipe, or maybe that pipe bursts clear open! Whichever way it happens, you’re in for potentially costly water damage. At that point, your best line of defense is to quickly stop the flood by shutting off the flow of water at its source.

Even if you turn off the shutoff valves at the first sign of trouble, you may still suffer water damage to your home. For everything from a small leak to a water disaster that spans several floors of your home, call on an experienced disaster recovery company like SERVPRO of West Hartford, which has specialized training, expert staff and the latest equipment to help you restore your home and possessions.

You’ll be ready to respond to a water disaster in your home if you know where all of the shutoff valves are located and how to operate them.

Locate Your Whole House Shutoffs

Main Shutoff Valve

The location of this valve will vary depending on if you have metered water or a well.

• Metered water: the shutoff valve will be on one side of the water meter. The meter itself may be in your basement, on an exterior wall or close to the street in a concrete "meter pit."
• Well: the valve will be on the side of the pressure tank nearest the house. (When you shut off the main valve, also cut power to the tank to prevent the motor from burning out trying to compensate for the loss of pressure—then remember to turn the power back on when you restore water flow.)

Hot Water Shutoff Valve

The hot-water outlet on your water heater should have a valve that controls your home’s hot water. If your water heater lacks a valve, have one installed.

Locate Your Appliance and Fixture Shutoffs

• Toilet: Look on the toilet under the tank for this shutoff valve, which usually has a ribbed oval handle.
• Sink: Look under the sink, inside the vanity or sink cabinet. Typically, the hot water shutoff valve is on the left and the cold water valve on the right.
• Dishwasher: You may need to check in a couple of spots for this shutoff valve. First, look on the 1/2-inch hot-water sink-supply line that leads to the dishwasher under the kitchen sink. Not there? Go to your basement, stand below the dishwasher and look up. Find the supply line that runs along the ceiling joists and check for a shutoff valve.
• Washing machine: You’ll find these valves (one for hot and one for cold) at the spot where the house-supply lines meet the washer hoses. Tip: Close off these valves when you leave your home for more than a few days.

When you have suffered a water or other disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of West Hartford at 860-206-6141

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The team at SERVPRO of West Hartford has the people, skills and equipment to help homeowners recover from water damage and eradicate mold. Call SERVPRO of West Hartford at 860-206-6141 any time.

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