Locating Your Master Valve
Don't wait until a water emergency to find the location of your master shut off valve.
The master valve is probably the most important piece of your internal plumbing system. It controls the flow of water
throughout your home. You and
everyone in your household should know where it is and be able to locate it in a moment's notice. In case of an
emergency, you cannot afford to waste time searching for the valve. You must be able to locate and operate it
immediately. If your property is going to be unoccupied for a long period of time, you might want to consider shutting
the valve off to avoid or minimize any water emergencies during your absence. In addition, a plumber can drain
your lines if the house will be subjected to below freezing temperatures.
The most probable locations for the master valve are:
- Where the water supply pipe enters your home
- At the meter, if it is inside your home
Once you have found the master valve, confirm that it is the correct valve by shutting it off to see if all the water
faucets in your home also shut off. If they do not, resume your search.
When you find the right valve, make it more visible by marking it with a brightly colored tag, ribbon or paint so that you,
or anyone else, can find it easily during an emergency.
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