Outdoor Water Main Shut Off Valve Types

The main water shut off valve stops the flow to the entire home from the water meter while other water valve types shut off the water at individual appliances fixtures and faucets.

Outdoor water main shut off valve types.

Water valve kits control the mixing of water chemicals and inert gases. This valve is open when the handle is aligned with the pipe. While most water valves can do this stop valves provide easy shut off mechanisms to allow people to find a leak near fixtures or when doing other plumbing work without shutting off the water supply to the entire house. Typically it will be located on the perimeter of the house since that is where the water first enters your house.

To close it turn the handle clockwise 1 4 turn so that it s at a right angle to the pipe. Water supply stops shut off the water supply to a faucet toilet or an appliance such as a washing machine. Residential plumbing systems can contain several different types of water shut off valves that control water flow. Check valves prevent backflow from contaminating clean water.

The main valve is the one to stop most plumbing catastrophes such as a burst pipe. To remove the old valve you ll have to undo the coupling on the house side of the water meter. Other types of valves aren t hiding but they re not always easy to find. Based on our review we found the best automatic water valves for each of three types.

Frost free valves have a long rod on the handle that closes a washer deep inside the wall where freezing is eliminated. At that point you re ready to shut down the water and replace the valve. Addon water shut off valve is installed over your existing valve so no significant plumbing required. Shut off the street side valve where the water enters the house.

Outdoor water shut off valves are modified forms of a washered valve. A shut off valve tends to be a compression or quarter turn valve and can be chosen in straight or angled designs depending on the flow path of the particular plumbing configuration. Then loosen the coupling nut and remove the nipple from the old valve. Ball valve assemblies are for use with water oil and natural gas systems.

The first step is to physically search for your house s main water shut off valve on the inside of the home. Ball valves are common types of supply stop valves. This is the type of valve often seen at the main water shutoff for the home. A ball valve is a large metal valve usually featuring a lever handle.

Dishwashers these shut off valves are usually located on the sink s hot water supply line. Most homeowners find their shut off valves for kitchen and bathroom sinks in the cabinets under those fixtures. Dome dmwv1 is the most affordable but also consistently highly rated product. Here s a quick overview.

Houses with plastic or copper main water pipes leading into the house may have a full flow ball valve. Toilet water shut off valve.