Do You Know Where Your Water Shut-off Is?

Do you know where your water shut-off is? Knowing where to shut the water off in an emergency can save you grief and money when things go wrong.

Why Being Able to Shut off the Water Is Important

In case of a water leak or plumbing emergency, quickly shutting off the water supply can prevent extensive water damage to your property. You can avoid costly repairs and reduce the risk of structural damage by turning off the water if a leak is found. For example, if a leak is occurring and the water is shut off quickly enough, this mitigates the risk of mold forming. Moreover, knowing how to shut off the water supply during home renovations or construction work can help avoid accidents and water damage. Shutting off the water supply is especially important when working on plumbing systems.

Locating the Water Shut-off

Finding the water shut-off valve in a home can vary depending on the plumbing system and the home’s layout. Your city water shut-off can be located anywhere in the house, but an excellent spot to start searching would be the front wall of your basement. Another clue would be to check in the vicinity of your water meter.

The shut-off could be an older spigot-type valve, shown as the orange spigot in the photo. Furthermore, it could be a right-angle valve shown as the yellow valve in the image. Turn the spigot valve clockwise until it stops. Turn the right-angle valve a quarter turn either way until the valve handle is perpendicular to the pipe. We recommend labeling the shut-off valve and providing instructions on how to use it to ensure everyone in the household knows its location and function.

Here at Pilgrim Home Inspections, we always start our comprehensive reports with utility shut-offs at the top of the report. In addition to providing inspections, our goal is to educate and inform our clients regarding what they need to know about the property. Contact us today to schedule your inspection.