Helpful Tips

Plumbing problems are often a home owner's worst nightmare. How the water goes in and out of our house is a mystery to most of us and for the most part we only care when it's not happening or happening too much! But there are a few things every homeowner should know so that should a plumbing disaster occur, it won't seem so overwhelming.

Here's what you can do to handle a plumbing emergency:

Q: What should I do should if a major plumbing leak occur at my residence?

A: First thing that you should do is find the main shut off valve to your home. This is generally located outside of your home. Every home has a valve that shuts off the water where it enters the house. When you turn this valve off, no water will enter your house at all. If you are having a major water issue somewhere in the house that you cannot control in any other way, this is where you will want to turn the water off.

• The main shut off valve is often located near the water meter. It's not always easy to find the main cut off valve in the middle of a plumbing emergency, so make sure you locate yours in advance.
• If you cannot locate your cut off valve, contact your local plumber so that he can find it for you. Or you can also ask a neighbor who has a similar home where theirs is located in their home. Yours will probably be in the same spot.
• To turn off the water to the house, turn the valve clockwise. It often looks like the valve on your outdoor water spigot.

Turning off the main cut off valve is one way to handle a plumbing emergency