The current social distancing situation has many people deciding it's time to' family-up' with others, meaning those who have been under quarantine are sharing a household with others rather than staying by themselves alone.
But, if you're going to be gone for an extended time, we recommend that you shut off your water before you leave town. This will prevent a plumbing leak from remaining undiscovered and causing unnoticed damage while you are gone. A little planning and preparation will help you understand your plumbing system and how to avert a crisis. This is what you should know:
The location of the shutoff
Inside the garage or laundry room, there is a gate valve or a ball valve that will shut off your entire plumbing system. If you have a gate valve, it's a little dicey. This type of valve needs to be used often to retain its movement ability, and if you use it as a shutoff after letting it sit unused for a long time, it might not be possible to turn it back on. We recommend you have a plumber swap it for a ball valve because it's a much more reliable device. If that's not an option, you can use tools to turn your water off down on the street.
Managing an electric water heater
Prior to shutting off the mainline, you need to turn off the electric water heater. Even when the water is off, there is potential for drainage, and if the water heater drains down to the element, it could burn up the water heater. Turning the unit off will prevent the possibility of heat damage. If your water heater doesn't have an on-off switch, use the breaker at the electrical service panel to shut it off. It's a 30-amp fuse.
Managing a gas water heater
Use the vacation or pilot mode to turn off a gas water heater. It should be located on the gas control valve to the water heater. Do not shut off the gas itself, unless you are prepared to relight the pilot light yourself or call a plumber to light it. If there is a leak, the only water available will be in the lines and what is left in the tank.
Tankless
If you have a tankless water heater, shutting off the main water line will be all that you need to do.
But I don't want to shut off my water
Customers who don't want to shut off their water can Flo by Moen has a Smart Water Shutoff device that can be installed on your incoming line. It will recognize changes in pressure, and if there is a discrepancy, it will move to shut off the entire system before it can flood your home. It is not cheap ($499 uninstalled). However, it is Smart and costs less than the damage from even a modest-sized leak.
If you want us to come to install a ball valve or Smart water shutoff on your plumbing system, or if you have a problem of another kind, give us a call! We can help.
If you need an honest, dependable plumber in the Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe or Chandler area, call Jimmy at 480-757-1273.
