The Most Important Thing You Can Know About Your Plumbing
If we could give every homeowner in Bradenton one piece of plumbing advice, it would be this: know where your water shutoff valves are and make sure they work. When a pipe bursts or a fixture starts gushing water, every second counts. The difference between shutting off the water in 30 seconds versus 5 minutes can be the difference between a minor cleanup and tens of thousands of dollars in water damage.
Your Main Shutoff Valve
Every home has a main water shutoff valve that controls all the water coming into the house. In most Bradenton homes, you will find it in one of three places: near the front of the house where the water line enters (often in the garage), near the water meter at the street, or in a utility closet. It is usually a gate valve (round handle you turn clockwise) or a ball valve (lever handle you turn a quarter turn).
Ball valves are far more reliable. Gate valves — which are common in homes built in the 1980s and 1990s — tend to seize up when they are not used regularly. We recommend testing your main shutoff valve at least once a year. Turn it off, confirm the water stops inside, then turn it back on. If it is stiff, leaks, or does not fully stop the water, have it replaced before you actually need it in an emergency.
Fixture Shutoff Valves
In addition to the main valve, most fixtures have their own individual shutoff valves. You will find them under sinks (two valves — one for hot, one for cold), behind toilets (one valve), and near the water heater. These allow you to shut off water to one fixture without affecting the rest of the house, which is useful for repairs and minor emergencies.
Check each one by turning it clockwise. If it is stuck, do not force it — you could break the valve or the supply line. A plumber can replace a seized fixture valve in about 30 minutes, and it is well worth the investment. At Rosco Plumbing, we replace failing shutoff valves every week.
Related: plumbing fixture lifespan guide
Make It a Household Conversation
Everyone in your household should know where the main shutoff valve is and how to operate it. Walk your family through the location and demonstrate how to turn it off. Label the valve with a tag if it is hard to find. In an emergency, the person closest to the valve needs to act — and they cannot do that if they have never seen it before.
If you are unsure about the condition of your shutoff valves, Rosco Plumbing can inspect and replace them. Call us at (941) 345-2464 — it is one of the simplest and most valuable plumbing investments you can make.
Related: hurricane season plumbing prep, emergency plumbing services
Knowing your shutoff valves is not glamorous, but it is the single most important piece of plumbing knowledge you can have. Test them yearly, replace them if they are stuck, and make sure everyone in your home knows where they are. It could save you a fortune someday.