As a homeowner, keeping your home out of danger is essential. When shutting off the water, remember what appliances it could affect.
Here's what we've looked up so you know what to do when you shut the water off. We also cover whether it affects the AC or heater.
Turning off the water does not affect the air conditioning but might affect the heater. Most air conditioners are not water-based, so turning off the water has no effect. And they do not have a connection to the drainpipes.
It will be better to switch off the heater while you shut off the water, especially if you want to leave your home for a few days or weeks. You can prevent water heater problems in the future by doing this.
Even if it is advisable to turn off your water when leaving, always check and turn off any appliances that might be affected, such as the heater.
It's never too late to make improvements to handle things that are important to you. So, learn more here about shutting the water off. Keep on reading!
Consequences of Failing to Shut the Water Off When Going on Vacation
Before you go on a vacation, shutting off the water is always a must. You might never enjoy going on a holiday again if you come home and see your house has flooded with water.
When you forget to turn off your water while on vacation, the damage it could cause may ruin things at your home.
Supply line leaks, water heaters dripping, frozen pipes, and appliance damage are all possible consequences if you fail to turn it off while away.
You would lose a significant amount of money if water leaks cause damage. Things will need to be dried out, cleaned, and replaced as needed, and the electrical system will have to be rewired.
It is usually smart to turn off the water when you leave for a long time, especially when the weather in your area is unpredictable.
The emotional stress of witnessing priceless items, precious memories, and family treasures drowning in water is an awful experience that no family ever wants to encounter.
When Is The Best Time To Turn Off The Heater?
Turning the heater off when shutting off the water isn't always necessary.
Even if you forgot to turn off the heater when you shut the water off, there's nothing to worry about. This is true as long as you have a smart thermostat and a central heater set to a low setting,
However, it's best to think of the worst-case scenario if you forget to turn off the heating and shut off the water while you're away.
The water heater contains a tank that stores water, keeping the water there as long as you don't need it. If the water level in the tank decreases for any reason, it is best to switch the water heater off.
The best time to turn the heater off is only when your water will be off for a long time and if you have a tank or hybrid water heater.
It's okay to leave your water heater running during brief shutoffs until the water flows again.
Why Shutting Off Water Doesn't Affect the Air Conditioner?
Understanding how an air conditioner functions is a great thing. Ever wondered whether an air conditioner could function without water? How does an air conditioning system cool the air?
Water isn't usually necessary to operate AC units, so they aren't affected when water at home is shut off. Instead, the freezing temperature induces water droplets to form.
Air filtration, evaporation, compression, condensation, and air release are the processes an AC uses to regulate air circulation.
Advice to Take When Away From Your Home
It's beneficial to have acquaintances in your neighborhood.
You can invite a friend or a family you can trust to visit your house while you're away for a few days. This will help you to prevent any problems with your home's water supply.
What's more, you might get a professional to complete the following before leaving on vacation:
- To prevent water freezing and breaking pipes in the winter, drain water from the pipes.
- Examine the appliance supply lines and fix any broken ones.
- Inspect your drainage system.
- Look for a buildup of leaves and debris in the drains.
Steps For Shutting Off Water At Home
You'll need to shut off the water supply in your home at some point. You might need to do this to prepare for a long trip or a scheduled plumbing repair.
There are also unexpected circumstances where there is often little time to react.
1. Find the location of the valve
Depending on the condition of your house and the weather where you live, the main water shut-off valve may be in a variety of areas.
A gate valve resembling a circular spigot or a ball valve with a handle shaped like a lever will serve as the knob.
The valve might be located inside the home, on a wall, or outdoors, buried close to the road.
If it's within the house, search the basement, laundry room, and utility areas. It will typically be located lower down on the main floor.
The shut-off valve could be mounted on an outside wall outside the house in some warmer climates. Start looking for it by the outdoor faucet.
Check outdoors where it is buried close to the road.
At or near your water meter outside, there is typically a water supply shut-off valve the city can use to switch on or off your water. It will most likely be near the street, beneath an access panel buried in the ground.
2. Turn the water off
Give a gate valve a few clockwise twists until you can no longer turn it to shut off the water supply. Turn the lever 90 degrees clockwise to adjust the ball valves.
3. Run the taps
Drain the water already flowing in the pipes to release the pressure.
Your home's lowest level sink should be turned on to ensure that water in the pipes from the floors above flows all the way down.
Open the hot and cold taps and let them run until empty.
4. Turn the water back on
Turn the valve clockwise and turn on the water once the repairs are completed.
Turn on a faucet and wait a few moments for the water to get to it to make sure all of it is back to normal.
3 Most Recommended Water Shut-off Valves
SharkBite Ball Valve
You won't need any special tools to install this shut-off valve. It uses a push-to-connect design. They are heavy-duty and meet residential and commercial plumbing standards.
Click this link to see SharkBite Ball Valve on Amazon.
Midline Straight Shut-off Valve
This shut-off valve is a universal fit. It features self-lubricating PTFE seats, a quarter-turn handle, and, for safety's sake, a double o-ring. It is durable, performs well, and is resistant to corrosion.
Click this link to see the Midline Straight Shut-off Valve on Amazon.
Heavy Duty Turn Angle Shut-off Valve
This shut-off valve is solid. It includes all compression rings and has a lead-free brass construction.
Also, its heavy-duty squared-body design will fit a wrench. Moreover, the chrome-plated brass is high-quality and has a solid metal ball joint.
Why Is Water Shut Off During Winter?
In order to save your home from a lot of troubles, shutting off the water during winter is necessary, especially the outside faucets.
Also, it is advisable to remove hoses and splitters from the spigot. This is the best way to keep your water lines unharmed.
How To Prevent Freezing Pipes When Shutting Water Off?
The best thing to do is turn your water off if you can locate your valve. Experts recommend leaving your faucets on with a slight trickle, not a drip, to prevent the pipes from freezing.
Why Is It Important To Run Water After Shutting It Off?
You should run the water first before turning off the water. This will help ensure a complete shut-down by relieving pressure in the plumbing pipes.
If there is any old water in your plumbing or service line that may have greater amounts of metals, like lead, running the water can get rid of it.
In Closing
You can make it a habit to double-check everything, especially your appliances at home. Turning off the water helps reduce potential damage.
Always keep in mind that when you shut off the water, you should also turn off the heater. Doing these things is crucial for protecting your home.
Check out some additional articles that may interest you before you leave:
How Long Does It Take To Install A Water Heater?