Helpful Info about your main water shut-off valve
Most every house, condo unit, and apartment will have two vital connections to the city’s water supply – the city connection and main water shut off valve.
What is the difference between the city water line connection and the main water shut off valve?
The city connection, maintained by the utility, typically lies close to the sidewalk or street, right where the water supply line for your residence connects to the city’s water main. Utilities typically have valves that can shut off water to a specific street address, an entire street, or even a neighborhood. The goal of this system is to minimize flooding in the case of a water main break or to minimize service disruption to other customers when one customer needs a plumbing repair.
The main water shut off valve, maintained by the property owner or manager, is located where the water service line connects to the building – typically in the basement, or inside the wall closest to the service connection. This valve shuts off water supply to the entire structure. In multi-unit housing, one main water shut off valve can stop supply to the entire building, while individual units may have another shut off valve that stops supply to the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry within the unit. On top of all that, most toilets, water appliances, and sinks have a local shut off valve that stops water to just that fixture.
What is the purpose of the main water shut off valve?
This small valve has a very big purpose – and keeping it in shape can save you tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair costs in the case a pipe bursts somewhere inside your home. This valve is like a soldier, quietly standing guard over the water supply, ready to act at a moment’s notice when you need to manually shut off the water supply to your home.
When should you use the main water shut off valve?
The most common usage for the main water shut off valve is during routine plumbing repairs inside your home, such as replacing a toilet or faucet. Most of these fixtures have localized shut off valves that stop water supply to just that fixture, but your repair technician can make the call as to when the safer call is to shut off water to the entire house until the repair is complete.
Should a pipe crack or rupture – be it a water line behind drywall, in the ceiling, or underneath flooring, every second counts to localize and minimize damage. It’s best to stop water from leaking before a service technician can rush in to complete the repair. Running water can quickly spread from the pipe’s breakage point to flood zones throughout the home, damaging drywall, cabinetry, flooring, HVAC ductwork, electrical lines, and personal property.
How to use a main water shut off valve
Your main water shut off valve will likely come in one of two forms – a wheel style (gate valve) and a lever style (ball valve). In both cases, GENTLY turn the valve clockwise to shut water off, and GENTLY turn counterclockwise to bring the water back on. As you can see, GENTLE is the key word here. As these valves are not used often, if ever, a sudden and forceful turn can cause the metal in the handle to break – leaving you powerless to stop water from flowing into your home until the city can come out and shut off water flow from the city connection.
Proper maintenance for a main water shut off valve
It’s best to test your main water shut off valve at least once per year. Here’s how to do it safely quickly:
- Visually inspect your valve for signs of corrosion, rust, or leaking water. If the valve looks compromised, DO NOT test it. Call Ace Plumbing and Rooter to request a main water shut off valve replacement.
- If the valve looks OK, find a faucet nearby, such as a mop sink in the basement, or the nearest bathroom sink faucet. Turn it on so you get a gentle stream of water into the sink.
- Return to the main water shut off valve.
- A wheel style valve may need several complete clockwise rotations to come to a natural stop.
- A lever style valve only needs a QUARTER TURN – do not force the lever past this position for risk of breaking it.
- Walk back to your running faucet to see if the water is completely shut off. If this is the case, your valve is operational. If not, it will need servicing. Even a slow and steady faucet drip after several minutes means some water is still moving through the pipes.
- Keep the faucet in the OPEN position and return to your main water shut off valve.
- Turn the wheel counterclockwise until it stops
- Turn the lever a quarter turn back to the original position
- Return to the faucet, let it flow for a minute until air in the pipes pops out – it may be loud and jarring, but this is expected. You may get air bubbles at fixtures throughout the house during first usage after your test.
- If lubrication is needed, apply a dash of WD-40 to the valve.
That’s your main water shut off valve awareness and maintenance lesson for the day!
Ace Plumbing and Rooter is here for you anytime you need preventative maintenance, servicing, or upgrades to any part of your residential or commercial plumbing system. We’re experts in San Francisco’s strict plumbing and building codes and always ensure your project gets done right the first time – with competitive prices and fast and friendly service.
