Tip of the Day

Main Water Valve

Your plumbing system has many different valves.  But knowing where the most important are can potentially save you thousands of dollars.  The main water valve controls the flow of all water into your home and must work properly to prevent damage.

First, find the valve.  It’s usually located on the lowest level of your home near the street.  Test the valve to see if it turns off – there shouldn’t be any leaks or running water even if a faucet is turned on.  Create a large tag and label it with the words “main valve” and hang it from the valve handle and make sure all household members can find it before a flood occurs. 

Another important location to know – the weakest link of your plumbing system is probably the rubber connecting hoses on your washing machine.  These hoses can dry out, burst and allow thousands of gallons to rush into you home.  To avoid this, be sure to turn off the water supply valves to the washer before leaving home for extended periods of time.  If they are hard to reach, have them replaced with a single-lever turn-off that operates both hot and cold water supply valves with a single switch. 

A little forethought can save you from taking an unexpected bath.

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