Ball Valves - In Demand Plumbing Antioch CA

Emergency Shut Off Valves - Ball Valve

The Importance of Installing Emergency Shut Off Valves

Many homeowners fail to understand the importance of emergency shut off valves in their plumbing systems. Until there is a plumbing emergency, most people never even realize that these valves are a critical and indispensible addition to your home. While it is not necessary for you to understand exactly how they work or how to install them, you should definitely know why you need them and how to operate them in an emergency.

Why do you need Emergency Shut Off Valves?

Usually the emergency shut off valve is in the form of a ball valve or gate valve, but you will find that most residential apartments have ball valves for this purpose. These valves function like an on/ off switch that can stop the water flow to the entire house. In case of an emergency, such as a massive leak from a broken pipe, the first thing you need to do is to stop the water flow. Under these circumstances when the water is gushing out of the broken pipe, you do not have time to identify the right angle valve or to plug the hole by other means.  By turning off the emergency shut off valve you can stop the water flow immediately and prevent further water damage. Once you have taken care of the emergency, you can carry out a detailed examination to identify the cause of the leakage. Often, you will need to call a professional plumber to deal with a serious leak. In such case, you cannot allow the leak to continue until the plumber pays you a visit. Simply shut off the emergency valve while you are waiting for the plumber to arrive so that you can contain the water damage to a limited area.

Being Prepared for Emergencies

Knowing the location of your home’s emergency shut off valve is very important. So is learning how to operate it so that you can turn the water supply to your home off or on when required. Usually, this valve will be positioned at your water supply meter if your home is on the civil water supply line. For those who use a personal well, the valve will be located at the pressure tank. Try turning the valve on and off to get an idea of how to operate it to make sure you are prepared to meet emergencies. If you cannot find the valve and are not sure your home has one then you may have to call in a professional plumber. We can help you find the emergency shut off valve or install one for you if it hasn’t been done already.