Whether you’re facing a plumbing emergency or you want to be prepared if disaster strikes, it’s essential to find the main water shutoff valve. This valve is usually located in the basement or a utility room. It controls water flow to the pipes in your home, which means that when you turn the water valve off, you also shut off the water supply to your home. If you want to learn more about the water shutoff valve or where to find it, ask a Henderson plumber for help. 

Finding the Right Valve

 The main water shutoff valve is the master water valve in your plumbing system. However, there are other smaller valves located throughout your plumbing system as well. The faucets, showers, toilets, and other fixtures have their own smaller valves. If you’re hiring a Henderson plumber to make isolated repairs on one or two fixtures, you may only need to turn off the water supply to a limited portion of your plumbing system. If so, you would need to cut off the local water supply using a smaller water valve rather than the main valve. 

Types of Valves

 Your home may have one of three kinds of valves. Gate valves are long-lasting and durable. However, they can be difficult to move if they haven’t been touched in years. If you haven’t yet used the main water shutoff valve since moving into your house, try closing the gate valve to make sure it still works properly. Another type of shutoff valve is the ball valve. This valve is commonly found in homes with copper or plastic water main pipes. The ball valve is open when the handle aligns with the pipe. You can close it by turning the handle counterclockwise so that it lies at a 90-degree angle to the main pipe. A globe valve is another type of main water valve. Its name is derived from its ball-like shape. The valve is regulated by a plunger, which has a seal or washer to control water flow. 

Testing Your Valves

 Knowing how to turn your water valves on and off is important. But you should also know what to expect and how to check for problems. If the valve hasn’t been used in a while, a small leak may develop near the valve stem. In that case, you can simply tighten the nut to stop leaks. If you notice a major leak, however, be sure to contact a Las Vegas emergency plumber for repairs. 

 When you’re dealing with a burst pipe or another plumbing disaster, knowing how to turn off the main water shutoff valve is key. If you have a plumbing emergency on your hands, don’t hesitate to contact Service Plus Plumbing for repairs. Visit our website to learn more about our 24/7 emergency repair services.