I've noticed that one of the biggest issues we face is homeowners waiting too long to call a plumber, which often leads to a flooded house. To avoid this disaster, it's crucial to know where your main water shutoff valve is located. It might be outside at the street where you'll need a meter key, just inside where the water line enters your home, or even in the basement near the foundation. Knowing its location can help you stop a leak before it turns into a big problem. So, I'm curious, does everyone know where their main shutoff is?
3 Answers
Knowing where your shutoff is could definitely save you from some nasty situations. Mine's in the driveway, and luckily, I don’t need any special tools to get to it—just lift the cover. But I’ve heard some horror stories; like one guy said his was so badly corroded that he couldn’t turn it off, and the city wouldn’t replace it!
There are definitely a few misunderstandings around this. I’ve had my main shutoff stuck before too, and a plumber who came by ended up breaking it when turning the water back on! Thankfully, they fixed it for free, saying it was an old setup that wasn’t their fault. So yeah, knowing where it is can really be a lifesaver, but also make sure you can actually turn it off!
I totally get this! It's important to know where your main shutoff is. In fact, I have a water sensor right next to mine. It really helped us out when our outdoor spigot started leaking all over the basement walls!
Oh man, that's quite the story! I hope everyone realizes how important it is to check if that valve is working before a crisis hits.