Summer is heating up, schools are out of session, and many homeowners are planning to take short or long trips around the country and abroad. And while you will definitely remember to turn off your stove, should you turn off your water as well while you're on vacation?
The short answer is: Yes
A major leak can be catastrophic, especially if you're not around to deal with it. If your water pressure is running low through your pipes, and your plumbing system is left unchecked for a period of time, any leak can flood your home.
How to turn off your main water supply?
To prevent the risk of a plumbing catastrophe, locate your main water supply valve and turn it off. This can be located in a number of areas in your home, including basement, crawl spaces, or outside of your home. It will have a wheel control for the lever handle. Turn the valve to the ‘closed’ position to shut off the water and prevent additional water from flowing into your pipes.
If vacationing in winter, consider draining all the water from your pipes in addition to shutting off the mains supply. This will prevent the risk of pipes bursting due to water inside freezing and expanding.
If you're unsure of the location of your water supply valve, contact your plumber for immediate help.