Enter Search Terms Below and press 'ENTER' Shutoff valves should always be found at the base of your toilet, under the sink for your kitchen and bathroom faucets and on your water heater. You should also have a main shutoff valve for your entire property. In the event of a leak or emergency such as an earthquake, it is important to be able to locate and turn off your various shutoff valves. It is important to know how to shut these off in the event of an emergency or leak. Or give us a call and we’d be happy to come and show you where they are and tag them so they are clearly marked for easy reference and locating. You are ready for any water emergency when you know where valves are located for all your faucets and appliances. Plan a family house tour with husband, wife and older children. All should know what to do if water emergencies arise when they are alone in the house. Start with the main water line valve, which totally controls the flow of water in your home. Usually, it is in the basement on the pipeline coming through the wall on the street side of your house.

Find the valve, be sure it operates freely, and apply the tag to the main water line. If it is especially hard to find, place a second tag in a more visible spot. Continue the same procedure with the kitchen. Find the valves below the sink and test to see if they open and close easily. Miniature Puppies For Sale MidlandsIt is especially important to make this check because over a period of time a valve can become “frozen” if not used for years. Cottage Cherry Laminate FlooringUsually a wrench applied to the control wheel will free up the valve. T-Shirt Kun For MigDo this carefully to avoid breaking the control head. If the control wheel just can’t be moved, it is usually best to have it serviced by your plumber. Until this is done, make a mental note to shut off the main water line valve if this section of your plumbing gives you trouble.

Check for possible leaks around the stem after moving and freeing the valve. Applying a wrench to the cap or packing nut can stop minor leakage. Here is a plumbing tip: when you open any valve, open it all the way then turn it back the other direction slightly. This will help prevent it from sticking in the open position. Finally, apply a tag “Hot Water” and “Cold Water ” to the control valves. Continue the water tour– the bathroom or bathrooms, hot water heating system, water heater and water softener– every place in the home where water is used. Label all valves with the proper identification tags. To repeat, locating the main shutoff valve is especially important because when closed, it stops all water throughout the house in seconds. Be sure that everyone, including the children, knows where this vital control is located. Shutoff Valve Problem DiagnosticsDiamond Bar, CA | San Dimas, CA | La Puente, CA | San Gabriel, CA | Temple City, CA | At one time or another, you will require the service and assistance of a San Gabriel Valley plumber to help in an unplanned crisis or a plumbing installation.

Kevin Shaw Plumbing, Inc can assist you in a variety of ways, including shutoff valve installation, toilet backups, running cold and hot water supplies to the bathroom or kitchen and installing hot water heaters. With several years of experience and customer satisfaction guaranteed, you can trust Kevin Shaw Plumbing, Inc to provide you with quality residential plumbing services. All Rights Reserved © 2001-2016The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place. But if the unthinkable does happen, you’ll have to act fast to minimize the damage and cost of repairs.Not all freezing pipes burst, explains Paul Abrams, spokesman for Roto-Rooter. But when one does, it’s because water expands when it freezes, adding considerable pressure on unyielding plumbing pipes. That pressure can cause a tiny leak at a joint or crack on a length of pipe, unleashing the full flow of water inside your home.Water damage from bursting pipes is one of the most common home owners insurance claims, with an average claim cost of about $5,000.A water line coated in frost (or bulging like a well-fed python) is a good sign that it’s frozen, but not all plumbing pipes are visible.“

If your faucets won’t flow and your toilets won’t refill following a flush, that’s a good sign your pipes are frozen,” says Abrams.Before doing anything, shut off the water supply to that section of plumbing (or the entire house if that’s the only option) because the real trouble begins after the thaw. That’s because the frozen water may be acting as a plug, preventing water from spilling out of the cracks in your pipes. When that plug is thawed, water gushes out. It’s a good idea to be ready with a mop, bucket, and towels in case there’s a plumbing leak.“It’s not the frozen pipes that really get plumbers’ phones ringing,” adds Abrams. “It’s the thawing pipes that leak and spew water after a hard freeze.”Use a space heater, heat lamp, or hair dryer to thaw the frozen length of pipe. Wrapping freezing pipes with thermostatically controlled heat tape (from $50 to $200, depending on length) is also an effective way to quickly thaw a trouble spot.Don’t thaw pipes using a propane torch, which presents a fire risk.

If you walk in to discover Old Faithful in your basement, the first thing you should do is shut off the main water supply to minimize flooding. Next, call your plumber.Immediately dry out by removing as much water as possible using mops, sponges, towels, and a wet/dry vacuum. To minimize mold, mildew, and other moisture-related problems, run a dehumidifier in the space until it’s very dry.For big messes, call your insurance agent. The good news is that most home owners insurance covers burst pipes and the resulting water damage.“Everybody should know where it is,” says Abrams. “The sooner you can shut off the water, the less it will cost you down the road.”Not only should home owners know where the valve is located, they should have it inspected the next time a plumber is on site. If your home has an older gate-style valve, it might be worth the money ($200 to $400) to have it replaced with a more reliable ball valve.Gate valves are prone to sticking when you need them the most, so it’s a good idea to exercise them once a year by rotating them back and forth.