Of all the elements of your home’s plumbing system, the main water shut off valve is one of the most important.
The water shut off valve acts as a control for your entire plumbing system, allowing you to shut off the water supply in cases of emergency such as a burst pipe or as a preventative measure if you’re planning a trip out of town.
It’s important to keep your main water shut off valve in excellent working condition by paying attention to any indication that it may need replacing.
Two Kinds of Water Shut Off Valve
Knowing what kind of valve you have (and your typical maintenance schedule) can provide guidance as you investigate whether your main water shut off valve should be replaced.
Ball valves
Ball valves control the water source using a sphere that has a hole through it, which can be turned to stop or start the flow of water.
Gate valves
Gate valves use an internal gate system to control the flow of water and can freeze in place if not periodically opened and closed.
How to Locate Your Main Water Shut Off Valve
In order to confirm that the symptoms you’re noticing are indeed caused by a faulty main water shut off valve, you’ll first need to locate the valve.
If you have a property inspection report from when you purchased your home, check there first. The location of the main water shut off valve should be listed. If not, you’ll need to check the places inside and outside the home where the main water shut off valve is typically located.
Homes with crawl spaces or basements often locate the main water shut off in the underground space, near the wall that faces the street. If you have a water meter in your basement or crawl space, the main water shut off valve is likely close by. Homes built on a slab frequently have their main water shut off valves situated near the hot water heater or inside the garage.
If you can’t find the valve inside your home, check near your front curb. A cement box (often called a Buffalo box) may be buried underground, with a heavy iron cover reading “WATER METER” or “WATER.” You might be able to open the lid using a large screwdriver to pry it open, but a meter key (available at any hardware store) may be necessary.
Signs Your Main Water Shut Off Valve Needs to Be Replaced
Depending on the location of the main water shut off valve in your home, you’ll notice one of two major signs that your main shut off valve may be failing:
- the foundation appears wet
- water pressure throughout the home has decreased
Other plumbing issues can cause both of these problems, but checking your main water shut off valve is a smart step if you notice either of these signs.
Replacing Your Main Water Shut Off Valve
If you’ve noticed the signs that your main water shut off valve needs to be replaced, it’s important that you seek help from a professional plumber promptly before the problem gets worse and more damage is caused.
At Robinson’s Plumbing Service, our team of expert plumbing technicians has performed many main water shut off valve replacements, ensuring that we can carry out the job for you quickly and skillfully.
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Replacing A Lead Line?
A water service pipe (also called a water service line) connects your home to the city’s water main. In many cases, the city owns the pipe up to your property line, but the section on your property belongs to you. When you need to replace the lead service pipe, some cities have programs so the your pipe can be replaced in coordination with the public sections. The city of Richmond is offering a $2,500 reimbursement to homeowners who replaced their lead line between July 1, 2017 and February 26, 2018. Homeowners must fill out an application to be eligible.