Plumbing emergencies like leaks, burst pipes, and overflowing toilets can quickly become a disaster if left unaddressed. To prevent flooding or significant water damage in your home because of these issues, learning how to locate and turn off your water shut-off valves is crucial. Here’s what you need to know:
Checking the Individual Shut-Off Valves
You don’t always have to turn off your entire water supply during a plumbing emergency. In some instances, closing a fixture’s shut-off valve is enough to minimize damage. Here’s where to find them:
- Toilets: Check for the valve behind the toilet near the base, where a pipe extends from the tank and connects to the wall.
- Sinks: The water shut-off valve can be found under the sink or inside the cabinet under it, if there is one.
Locating the Main Shut-Off Valve
Your main water supply shut-off valve may be located in different parts of your property. Some areas to check are:
- Outside Your Home: Most properties have the main shut-off valve near the water meter, which is typically placed in front or the side of your house or even near the street. Note, however, that you have to reach out to your city or municipality to access them.
- The Basement: Another common location for the main valves is the basement. They may be on the wall of the front of your house or near your water heater.
Turning Off Your Water Supply
Once you’ve found where your individual and main shut-off valves are, you can now close them. Here are some tips to remember during and after turning off your water supply:
- The two types of water shut-off valves are called gate and ball. For gate valves, turn its wheel clockwise until it stops to shut off your water supply. Meanwhile, a ball valve has a lever handle, which needs to be turned to a 90-degree angle perpendicular to the pipes.
- If the valves are too tight, wear gloves or use a wrench and pliers to turn them. But do not force this, as you may do more harm than good. Call a licensed plumber if the shut-off valve is stuck and will not move.
- Once the main valve is off, slowly open a faucet to check if there’s still water flow.
Contact Us for Emergency Plumbing Services in Madison
With this guide on turning off your water supply, you can better handle plumbing emergencies at home. Still, you can always call an expert if you encounter an issue that is out of your depth. HJ Pertzborn Plumbing & Fire Protection provides quality repair and emergency services in Madison, WI. Get in touch with our plumbers today!