Whenever you want to do some home repairs on your plumbing, whether it is to change a leaky faucet or fix pipes, you need to shut off the main water supply. Most home owners do not know where their main shutoff valves are, especially if they have just moved in or are renting a home that is unfamiliar to them. Legacy Mechanical recommends looking at these common places you can look for your shut off valve.
Water Meter
The Water Meter, which you can usually find in your basement or just outside your home, will have a shutoff valve attached directly to it. Usually there will be two shutoff valves – one on each side of the meter (supply and home). To effectively shut off your water supply, turn the valve located before the meter.
Toilet Supply
Sometimes when you are doing a small plumbing repair to a toilet you do not have to turn off all the water to the house. It can be disruptive and then you will not have access to drinking water or be able to have a shower. So, when working on the toilet, always look for the toilet water valve located behind the tank. Sometimes this valve will be on the floor – other times it will be located on the wall just behind the tank.
Finding Tricky to Locate Supplies
Sometimes the water supply may not be located where you would expect. It might be behind appliances or access panels. Most of the time, the water supply will still be in the basement, so start there and look carefully at the root of the pipes. Since most of the pipes in your home will originate at the supply line, you can usually trace them back to a single source.
If you still cannot find your main water supply line and shutoff valve, that does not mean it is hidden in the floor somewhere or outside. Sometimes, the supply lines are just in odd places, either because of strange construction or poor renovations by a past owner. If this is the case, get a second pair of eyes to help you hunt or as a last ditch option, call a plumber who will be able to more easily follow the lines back to their source. Nine times out of ten, you should be able to find and handle a main water supply on your own. But never rule out calling for a plumbers help if things get more complicated than anticipated.
Still having issues with your main water supply line and shutoff valve? Call the experts at Legacy Mechanical Services for assistance no matter the time or day today!