Phil’s Tip: Shutoff Valves – minimize water damage to your property

Phil’s Tip:

Take some preventative steps to minimize the possibility of water damage to your property. Have a plumber install shut-off valves at every point in your house where you use water:

Example of a shutoff valve on toilet

• Where the water comes into the house (main shut-off)
• Under every sink
• Every toilet
• At the clothes washer

Then, if a faucet, toilet, or an appliance that uses water fails, you can immediately shut water off at *just* that location, and minimize any water damage. A broken water pipe can cause a lot of water damage. If you don’t have a shut-off valve near the burst pipe, then use the main shut off valve.

Examples:

1. If the toilet starts to overflow, shut off the valve by turning clockwise. Solve the clog problem, and then turn the water back on. The clean-up should be minimal.
2. If a hose bursts on the washer, shut off the valve. If there is no valve located *before* the water goes into the washer, then you will have to use the main shut-off valve.

Shut-off valves going to washer and utility sink. Yours may look different.

Shut the main valve off when you go on vacation, just make sure nothing else in your house requires the water to be on.

If you don’t have shut-off valves installed in your house, you may have to rely on calling the water company to come out and shut-off the water main to your house. By the time they arrive, you could have a disaster on your hands with a completely flooded house.

Some insurance plans do NOT cover all water damage, and any resulting mold problems.

It’s worth spending a little money up front to avoid a much more expensive water damage, and possible mold problem in the future.

These are just basic steps to contain a small leak in your house. For larger water damage, you will have to call in a professional to do the restoration properly.

S.T.O.P. – Service Team Of Professionals of Eastern PA is a local disaster restoration company based in Langhorne, Bucks County, PA.
We are here to help you with any property damage caused by water, flood, mold, smoke, fire, vandalism or hoarding.
We can be reached 24/7 for emergencies at:  267-433-5500

We handle jobs all over Southeastern Pennsylvania including: Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and South Jersey