Do you know where your main water shut-off valve is?

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

This is an example of an indoor main water shut off valve at a Charleston business that we completed an Emergency Ready Profile for.

There are a few things every homeowner needs to know about their home. One of the most important of these is where the main water shut-off valve is, and how to turn it off. Every home is required to have one installed inside the home and turning this valve off is crucial during certain emergency situations. 

First, you need to locate your main water valve. The best place to look is inside your home on the perimeter of the house facing the street. The water main is typically in the street and goes in a straight line to your house. There are two types of shut-off valves: it will either look like a handle that can only move in one direction or a knob that you have to turn several times to fully shut the water off. If you can not find the valve inside your home, there could be another located near the street or sidewalk. You may have to call the water company for them to shut it off. 

Any time you go out of town, you should shut off the main water valve as a preventative measure. Nothing is worse than returning home from vacation to a faucet that had been leaking the hole time you were gone and has now damaged your home. You will also want to shut the water off if there is a busted pipe or something leaking that requires attention. This will help lessen the damage to your property. 

Of course, if you forgot to turn your water off before your week long trip to the beach and come back to a bathroom full of water from a leaking faucet, don't fret. Just give us a call at 304-755-9510 and we will get you taken care of!