Owning a home comes with a lot of challenges, some of which come with the land you live on. Were you aware that the main water line to your house is technically your responsibility? It runs under your house, which falls under your jurisdiction. If you’ve noticed any of the following trouble signs, you may want to contact a plumbing professional immediately.
- Unusual water bill increase
- Excessive amounts of water in your yard
- Wet patches in your lawn
- Low water pressure or no water at all
- Discolored or murky water
- A sinkhole suddenly appears.
If you fall into any of these categories, then get in touch with us at Warrior Plumbing & Heating for hassle-free expert help with your main water line.
Why Do Main Water Lines Break?
Main water lines are normally quite secure and stable, but there are a few reasons why these supply lines can break:
- Time taking its toll in the form of aging or deterioration
- Inferior materials from the start
- Frozen ground, quick thaws and other inconsistent weather patterns
- Settling or shifting soil
- Tree root invasions
If you are experiencing any of these problems, the professionals at Warrior Plumbing & Heating can help. Give us a call today.
Locating the Shut Off Valves
If you can’t get one of our professionals within a safe amount of time before severe damages occur, it is crucial to know how to operate your water line. Turning it off can help delay any further problems and will likely save you a lot of money. Each home is required by law to have a shut-off valve. There are outside emergency valves, but sometimes there is one within the home itself.
If you’re unsure of where this is, call a plumber or your landlord for more information. If you’re new to the home you may want to contact the previous owner for assistance. Typically, shut-off valves are located the basement. In most cases, the main water will enter through a wall or concrete floor. Sometimes the valve is in a crawl space, garage, or side of the house. If you find it’s in a tough to reach space or you can’t find it you may need an emergency visit from Warrior Plumbing & Heating to help get the situation under control.
Operating the Shut Off Valves
Shut off valves are normally quite standard, so there are a few pointers you can use to properly close it off. If you’re unsure about it or are residing in a very old home, get in touch with us at Warrior Plumbing & Heating for help!
- The round wheel valve handles can be shut off by rotating the handle clockwise (towards the right). Normally 2 whole rotations will close it off, but sometimes more are needed.
- After you’ve rotated the wheel, take the handle valves and slowly turn them ¼ until the pipe is no longer parallel with it. It should not go past ¼ of a turn.
- Go back inside the house and turn on a sink or tub faucet to the highest notch. You can turn on both the cold and hot sides. This helps to relieve pressure. Do this until it’s fully shut down.
Moving Forward with Repair
Shutting off the main water line helps delay the inevitable. If you’ve successfully shut off the main, you will need to contact us immediately to assess the reasons behind the damage. Even if it was a small leak or breach, it can still transform into a monster of a problem, without notice. Yard flooding can lead to intense damage to your home’s foundation.
Before the issue escalates, get a hold of Warrior Plumbing and Heating today so we can help you find a solution!
