water shut-off

Last summer I recommended checking your main water shut off to your house. This summer it’s the washing machine shut offs and hoses.

Like my former main house shut off valve, the washer shut offs were this round red handled type, that can’t be trusted to last more than a few years.

This time the old washer shut off valves didn’t break or start leaking, but recently, when I tried to turn them off, the cold water valve was stuck open. I didn’t try to force it to turn, because I’ve had one of the handles break off in my hand and the valve start spraying water (a la last year’s post).

The new shut offs. I replaced the washer shut off valves myself, with these Shark-Bite connections, and cpvc pipe. As you know if you’ve done any DIY plumbing projects in recent years, Shark Bite connections are a literal game-changer, making anyone and everyone a potential plumber. They push into place. Honest. No cement, flame torch or solder required; and no leaks.

New utility sink! I also used this as an opportunity to add a utility sink, which I’ve wanted for years. I loved the sink instantly. It gives me a place to fill and empty the mop bucket, and rinse off and soak big things. It will also serve as a backup to hold washer discharge water if there’s ever a blockage in the drain (which has happened before).

New washer hoses, too. Murphy’s Law dictates that all of my ‘simple’ DIY plumbing projects will expand into a second project. This time it was new washer hoses. As I was reconnecting the washer hoses to the new shutoff, I realized one of the hoses was going bad. Turns out, the cold water hose was so corroded at the washer connection, that it wouldn’t come loose. I feared in removing it, I might also break the connection on the washer itself. I applied some WD40 and stepped away from the project to give it time to work. Success. The hose connection came loose with some gentle coaxing, and without breaking anything else in the process.

I’d wanted the metal braided kind of washer hose, but the store didn’t have that type in the length I needed. I could have ordered and waited on them, but I wanted everything installed that day. These will be good for several years anyway.

Do you have a main water shut-off valve inside your house? It’s a code requirement, so you probably do. But if for some reason you don’t have one, I recommend getting one installed. It makes it easy to shut off the water to repair or replace toilet valves, washer hoses, sink faucets and supply lines, etc.

Mine looks like this. I access it from a trap door in a closet.

Do you turn off the main shut-off when you go on vacation? I recommend it. It’s peace of mind that you won’t come home to a flooded house if a washer hose bursts, pipes freeze or some other unplanned catastrophe occurs.

Can you easily access your main shut-off valve, or is it behind a locked door, accessible only by ladder, or otherwise barricaded by stuff? If so, I recommend clearing a path and making it quickly accessible. That way, if there is a water emergency, such as a burst pipe or hose, you can quickly stop the flow.

The next important question is: Is your main shut-off valve this type?

If so, I recommend replacing it, and here’s why. It will break.

Recently, I turned the water off at the shut-off, so I could replace a toilet valve. With the toilet valve easily replaced, I re-opened the shut-off valve. Unexpectedly, the shut-off valve handle came off in my hand, and water started pouring into the space under my house.

Miraculously, I got the handle back on and the valve closed. Murphy’s Law dictated that this would happen on a Sunday afternoon. No plumbers were available. I went all night without running water, worrying that the shut-off would fail. Thankfully it didn’t. The plumber got here first thing in the morning and replaced the valve. He replaced it with a quarter-turn ball valve.

This is the type of shut-off I had always wanted, but didn’t realize I should have gone ahead and gotten the replacement. The total cost was $150. The plumber rolled his eyes at the round handle type and said “they all fail”.

With the quarter-turn ball valve, my peace of mind is restored. If I want to replace a faucet, or go on vacation, a simple turn of the shut-off valve is all it takes to turn the water off to the entire house.

Not all water can be so easily turned off. I’m speaking of all of the rain we are getting here in the Arkansas River region. Our banks, reservoirs and ditches are full, and we are sending the excess on to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Sorry ’bout that, neighbors to the south.

Bridges are still doing okay in my area, but some streets and paths, not so much. Parts of our river bike/walk path has been submerged. When the water recedes, in some spots the path has washed away with it.