What is the water valve in the garage for?

Garages are usually located near the front of the house, and that makes them a great place to run your main water line. Your emergency shutoff valve will usually be installed on an exposed plumbing line, and can usually be seen on a wall in your garage near your garage door and is either a small wheel or a lever.

What is the purpose of a shut-off valve?





Shut off valves allow for the safe control of compressed air in pneumatic applications and are used in a range of industries. Shut off valves are also a useful accessory to stop the air supply in controlled conditions where a process must work correctly and safely.

How do you know if a valve is on or off?

If the handle on top is parallel to the valve, it’s open. Likewise, if the handle is perpendicular to the top, the valve is closed.

How do you know if a water valve is open or closed?

Open or closed: When the handle of a ball valve is parallel to the valve or pipe, it’s open. When it’s perpendicular, it’s closed.

How do I turn off the main water valve in my garage?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Move the valve handle to a horizontal. Position older homes may have a valve like this to turn off the water turn the valve clockwise. Until it stops.

How do I shut off the water to my garage?





To turn the water supply off, give a gate valve a few turns clockwise until you can’t turn it any longer. For ball valves, turn the lever clockwise 90 degrees.

Which shut off valves should be open and closed?

The rear shut-off valves should be open. All shut-off valves should be in the open position, except the rear shut-off valves.

What are the important shut off valves in a home?

Other Shut-Off Valves



Toilet valve: Usually located below the bowl on the wall behind your toilet. Sink: Under the sink in the cabinet. Washing machine: Generally two valves behind the machine, both of which must be turned to stop water flowing.

Which way do you turn a valve to open it?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: On you turn it counterclockwise that opens your gate.

Which way do you turn off a water valve?



In most cases, the master shutoff valve to the home will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve). Gate valves (pictured to the right) are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter-turn clockwise until the water is off.

How do valves work?

They open and close to let blood flow from one area of your heart to another. They help ensure that blood moves at the right time and in the correct direction. As the valves open and close, they create two sounds, which are your heartbeat.

Where is the outside water shut-off valve?

Finding the Water Shut-off Valve

  1. Look for a rectangular or round cover that will be near the edge of your property, often between the curb and the sidewalk. Some water main valves are located along an alley, rather than the street. …
  2. Open the cover to the meter to find the water shut-off valve.



Which valve is outside water?

Turning Off Your Home’s Main Water Shutoff Valve



The main water shutoff valve supplies water to your entire home, and is usually located below the outdoor water faucet, or hose bibb, in the front of your home, or in the enclosure that houses an outside water heater.

What is a water valve?

Water valves regulate the flow and temperature in pipes and plumbing fixtures. When they are installed and operate properly, the valves control constant flow and volume. Materials used for water valves include brass, plastic, stainless steel, bronze, cast iron and galvanized pipe.

Do you need to turn off outside water in winter?

It’s essential to shut off water to exterior faucets and hose bibbs before freezing temperatures set in. A failure to do so may result in ice blockages and burst pipes. In order to winterize your hose bibbs: Turn off the water supply to the hose from inside the house.

When should I turn my outside water off?



Late October or early November is the best time to winterize outside water pipes.

  1. If your home is exposed to freezing temperatures in winter, shut off the water supply to outside pipes in fall.
  2. In regions with long winters, shut off outside water in late October or early November.

Is it safe to turn off main water supply in winter?

Shut off your water lines and drain them before winter getaways. During winter, the drop in temperatures can make the water in your pipes freeze. When water freezes, it expands, causing pipes to split or burst. To prevent this, first shut off the main water supply.

Should you let outside faucets drip?

When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.

Should outside faucets be left open or closed in winter?

If you have conventional exterior faucets (AKA sillcock, hose bib, exterior spigot, etc.), you should have a shutoff valve inside which should be closed before freezing temperatures hit.

How many faucets should drip in cold weather?



one faucet drip

How many faucets should I let drip? You only need to let one faucet drip, but it’s best for that faucet to be the one farthest away from where the water enters your home. The city of Portland and Consumer Reports both have some quick-and-easy tips on what to do if a pipe does burst or the water freezes.