Do you know where your water shut off valve is? This is how to locate your water shut-off valve.

This is a Preventative Maintenance Task!

Homeowners should know all their shut-off valves’ locations in case of an emergency. The water cut off valves, especially because you can easily prevent excess water damage during unexpected water leaks.

Tasks can be done by: Homeowner, Handyman

Task Steps

Step 1 – Locate Your Home’s Water Shut Off Valves

• If you already know where your water shut-off valves are located, then make sure everyone else in your household knows as well.
• If not, then it’s important first to differentiate if your home has crawl space, basement, or neither. (The easiest way to describe the location of your shut-off valves is to find the exact point where the main water line enters your home.) There will be a water valve there to turn on and off.
• If you are on city water, there should be two cutoff valves: one in your home and one somewhere outside near the street, which isolates your home’s water service from the mainline.
• No basement or crawlspace? Your water cutoff valve will most likely be in the utility room, under the kitchen sink, near the water heater, or even in the garage.
• Crawlspace only? The cutoff valve should be in the crawlspace.
• Basement only? The cutoff valve should be in the basement located near the home’s front-facing wall, where the main water line enters the house.
• However, if all those locations don’t help you locate your shut-off location, then you can always walk the perimeter of your home to see if it’s located underground in some sort of enclosed “pit.”
• Once you’ve found the valve, you should make sure you’re able to shut off the valves with your bare hands. Sometimes if they haven’t been used in a long time, they can gunk up and get stuck. If you find that your valve is stuck, it would be a great idea to lubricate the joints for easy use in an emergency.  Lastly, label the valve with the sticker provided by HomeManager.
  • Supply List:  HomeManager identification sticker

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