How do I shut the water off to my house

[SKR]

I work away from home sometimes and I was wondering about shutting the water off so I don't come home someday to a swimming pool in my basement. In my utility room I have a line with a meter on it, and a valve. I assume this must be the line coming into the house from the city. Can I just close that valve? I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't. I'd have to shut the humidifier off I guess. Anything else? I feel like this is a stupid question, but I'm a stupid person.

[16hypen3sp]

Yes, you can close the valve.

Whenever we leave on vacation, we close the water supply. We also just shut off the hot water tank.

[Maxx Mazda]

In fact, if memory serves, if you're away for more than 72 hours a lot of home instance companies will not cover water damage if the water wasn't shut off.

[Cos]

.

[schocker]

Do must water heaters have a vacation mode? I am guessing I can just close the breaker (electric), need to make sure my recycle pump is off also so it doesn't explode.

[Cos]

.

[schocker]

thanks cos, never thought to turn it off before and probably burning up $$$

[SKR]

Cool thanks. I should do that next time I leave.

[Zhariak]

Another thing to consider on extended stays away from home, make sure the toilette bowls are full, and it might be worth while running some water in all your sinks before you go, sometimes the water can evaporate in the U-Joint and if this happens sewage gases can come in to the house.

Make sure your furnace is working as well, don't want the pipes in the house to freeze.

[Pacman]

Originally posted by Zhariak
Another thing to consider on extended stays away from home, make sure the toilette bowls are full, and it might be worth while running some water in all your sinks before you go, sometimes the water can evaporate in the U-Joint and if this happens sewage gases can come in to the house.

Make sure your furnace is working as well, don't want the pipes in the house to freeze.

Agreed. If you are gone for a long time and the sewer lines evaporate, you can get sewer flies in the house.

[ExtraSlow]

That's a good point about the u-joint below sinks. I house-sit for a relative pretty regularly, and I make sure to run water in each sink, and flush every toilet at least once a week.

Shutting off the water is smart, but makes it harder on the house-sitter.

[bspot]

If your shutoff hasn't been used in years you probably have a bigger chance of a leak there from shutting it off than just leaving everything as is.

[SKR]

I really need to hire a house sitter.

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by Zhariak
Another thing to consider on extended stays away from home, make sure the toilette bowls are full, and it might be worth while running some water in all your sinks before you go, sometimes the water can evaporate in the U-Joint and if this happens sewage gases can come in to the house.

Make sure your furnace is working as well, don't want the pipes in the house to freeze.
Yup. Good idea.
To give you an idea of how long. I have a shower drain in the house with a 1 1/2" P-trap. I have to pour a cup of water down there about every 3 months to fill it back up. You can tell immediately when the water has stopped sealing. The smell in the room comes up right away.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by bspot
If your shutoff hasn't been used in years you probably have a bigger chance of a leak there from shutting it off than just leaving everything as is.

Last time I tried shutting mine off, the handle snapped, and it ended up leaking. I had to call the city, and they came and shutoff the water at the property line while I changed it.

[blitz]

My water shut off valve is about 40 years old. I installed a brand new valve just downstream of the meter to use so I never have to fuck with the old one.

[revelations]

Yea its a good idea to "use" the main, indoor house valve once a year or so.

The city came out to check our outside/city WV after our landscapers struck it (thanks for ATCO who failed to locate it) and they pushed it back in and tested it..... still worked!!