Do you know where your water shut off valves are?

Those are hard lessons learned!  Did everything dry out ok? 

Oh, how important this is!!

You may remember answering my question about having had water trouble and that I wasn't sure if I was going to have mold problems down the road? Well, that water problem was due to the water shut off knob part coming off of the wall!! It was crimped but somehow it popped off, so I couldn't shut the water off that way. In the meantime water was going everywhere and I was having a nice cold shower at the same time. There was water everywhere (since I didn't find out about the problem until 30 minutes later). I didn't know where the main water shut off valve is for the house so I was panicked.

I ran to the neighbor's house and he worked on shutting off the water from the street. PHEW! Before then, I didn't even know where that was!

I too think this is great advice I think that if you want to simplify the situation then just learn where the main shut off is in the house. 

The reason I say learn where the main shut off valve is it because it is USUALLY the easiest to access and does not usually seize up.  Many of the shut off valves under our sinks, behind our toilets and other places in the house are seized up tight and if you have water spraying all over the place then it is really frustrating to take a shower from the spraying water and still not be able to get the water shut off. 

Another element is it is hard to memorize each of the locations for some people.  IF you memorize where one is then you know where to go directly too and it will shut down the water rather quickly to the entire house.

Some of the main water shut off's are a round handle which is a stop valve or a gate valve and some are a straight handle which is known as a ball valve.

Good luck and it is DEFINITILY a great idea to know where your shut off valves are in case of the unexpected!!!

 

Good advice - like the signage idea.

I found out the hard way when I recently moved to a property. I was digging in the garden and went clean through the mains water line. Fortunately for me the main valve was where it should be, near the road at the front of the property. However, it was an anxious run to the road (my driveway is about 250 yards long) all the time hoping that it would be "where it should be".

 

Yeah, all the people we know and trust know where the water meter is so they can turn the water off if they ever needed too.

Wow, I had this happen to a friend of mine as well, as they were re-doing their floors, although this time the plumbers didn't attach the hose correctly. What has happened recently to us, was the hose to the solar system that heated the pool from the roof, burst and water was everywhere. We were in another country, luckily my in-laws are staying at the house, although it took a friend by chance who stopped by and notice water spraying out all over the outside deck. I wonder how they found the shut off valves . I better check the house we are living right now. Too many warnings, too many fridges connected to the water system. Thanks for this, I had visions of water and things floating around everywhere

Most people do not know where their fusebox is. Some larger properties might even have a sub board.

Many of these also havce a lock on them - make sure you know where the key is and can find it in the dark!

Thanks for this important tip! While you're looking your water shut off valves, you should also find the main shut off  for both water and gas (probably outside by one of your doors).