Knowing The Location Of Shut-Off Valves Saves In Many Ways

Here’s a basic question that might catch you off guard; in an emergency situation do you know where to go and what to do to turn your home’s water off? That’s some knowledge every homeowner needs to have almost as soon as they sign their sales documents and get their keys, but it’s an easy thing to overlook and forget about until an emergency pops up. That’s why we like to remind our customers at Roger’s Plumbing that there are some steps they need to be able to take to mitigate an emergency situation on their own before they reach for the phone and call out one of our crews.

Locate Main Shut-Off Valve

So the most important thing to know is where the home’s main water shutoff valve is located and what needs to be done to stop water from flowing into the property if there’s a major break or leak happening. This will save time, cleanup, damage repair, and money. The quicker it is turned off, the more savings there will be in all of these aspects.

Know Where All Shut-Off Valves Are Located Exactly

It’s also beneficial to locate the shutoff valves to toilets and sinks so you can stop the water flow headed to kitchens and bathrooms in the event of an emergency. Knowing where those critical points are ahead of time can help keep you calm when the pressure is on, and that’s critical because the wrong move with a major leak can cost thousands of dollars to repair later.

Locate The Main Drainage Cleanout Valve, Too

Another thing that’s easy to overlook is knowing where your main drainage cleanout valve is – it’s typically a white pipe on the edge of the yard about three feet away from the house and positioned so drainage can flow into the street toward a drain sewer. That way you can open it up and let wastewater flow out, preventing any drainage backups from causing wastewater to flow throughout the house.

Stop Using Water When Plumbing Issues Arise

And one simple thing to keep in mind when a major problem happens is to stop using any water at all until the source of the issue is located, the water flowing to it is stopped, and work starts on getting it fixed. People forget sometimes, but that includes turning off washing machines, dishwashers, and stop flushing toilets. As a general rule, the most important thing to do as a homeowner with a plumbing problem is to do whatever you can to stop the water from flowing before you call a Leander plumber. It doesn’t happen often, but we know that if we can hear water gushing in the background when we pick up the phone, then it’s going to be a long day ahead for everyone involved.