One of the most important valves to be familiar with in your home should be the main water shut off valve – that is, the valve that is responsible for shutting off all water supplies that enter the home. Luckily, the valve is easy to control once you know where it is located, so it should be a quick and easy task to shut off the water if need be.
Why might you need to shut off all the water to your home? It may not be frequently that this needs to happen, but it is important to be able to do it if any of the following issues come up:
- Plumbing Emergencies
If a pipe were to break, or a sewer drain backs up and water is entering the home, you will be best to turn off all water immediately. Water can very quickly cause damage within a home. - Renovations
When major renovations are being performed, water may need to be shut off to give access to the plumbing systems within the home, especially if the work is being done to a large area of the home. - Vacation
If you are going to be leaving the home for an extended time, it is sometimes a good idea to turn the home’s water supply off – just in case of an emergency. If a pipe were to burst, and continue flowing for the entire time you are gone, there could be a lot of damage to come home to.
If you are in the middle of an emergency, it is best to know where the valve is ahead of time. Often, the valve is inside the home where it is warm – and often will have a bright red handle for ease in identifying. The water can then be turned off with just a simple clockwise turn.
It is a good idea to be sure that everyone in the family knows where the main water shut off valve is located within the home and how to use it – just in case!
