How To Turn Off The Water Supply To Your Home ?

By Scott Rodgers

A homeowner who is completely ignorant about the location of water shut-off valves, is inviting a possible hazard to his home. It is quite essential to know the operation of these shut-off valves as they're the preliminary components of the entire plumbing architecture. Whenever a plumbing issue occurs, the first thing to do is to shut off the water supply to the affected plumbing unit.

Hence it becomes mandatory for a homeowner to possess a good idea about the location as well as the working of these water valves.

In case of detached households that are not a part of a building or a common plumbing system, the shut-off valves are located either in the water meter box or on the exterior walls. In case of a building or locality, the main water supply valve may lie adjacent to the main meter. You can always shut off the water supply to the entire building if a disaster is met.

The latest building codes demand the installation of individual shut-off valves along with each plumbing component to prevent any possible disaster. The plumbing units such as sinks, faucets, water heaters etc. come equipped with the valves that control their water supply.

These individual valves prove quite handy in situations where you don't have enough time in your hands to shut off the main valve. For example, you notice the kitchen sink tap leaking and dripping in such a way that water is falling on the floor. In such a case, shut off the sink valve immediately to restore the condition. It however would not be wise of you to run down to the main valve.

Similar to the kitchen sinks, the bathroom sinks and the toilets are provided with their associated shut off valves as well. Such valves reduce the intensity of a possible hazard and prevent a wide-scale damage.

Sometimes it takes more than just bare hands to turn off a valve handle to cut short the water supply. Hence it becomes obligatory to keep the basic plumbing tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers in tact. Make sure that the finish of the nuts or bolts of the valves is not altered during the overall process.

Hence these water shut-off valves play a key role in disaster management and also assists the repair operation of a plumbing unit. - 30517

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