How To Find Your Water Shut-Off In Pottsville
When a pipe bursts or a water heater lets go, the main shut-off valve is the one thing that stops the damage. Many Pottsville homeowners have never touched theirs, and in a house built before 1940, as close to six in ten homes in the city were, that valve may be old and stiff. Find it now, test it, and label it, so you are not searching a dark basement during an emergency. If you need help, call our team at (570) 990-3931 for plumbing help in Pottsville.
Inside the house
In most Pottsville homes the main shut-off is in the basement, on the water line where it comes through the foundation wall, often on the wall closest to the street. Look for a pipe entering through the wall or floor with a valve on it, often close to the water meter. It may be a round gate-valve handle that turns clockwise to close, or a lever-handle ball valve that closes with a quarter turn. In homes without a basement, check a utility closet, the crawl space or near the water heater. We will ensure that your shut-off valve repair in Pottsville is handled by professionals.
At the meter
Your water meter belongs to the water supplier: the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority in Pottsville and Orwigsburg, the borough water system in Schuylkill Haven, or the Minersville Municipal Water Authority in Minersville. There is usually a valve on each side of the meter, and the one on the house side is the one homeowners use. The supplier's curb stop near the street is for the supplier to operate; call them if you cannot shut the water off inside. Our team is fully committed to reliable plumbing service in Pottsville.
If the valve is seized
Old gate valves often seize or break when forced. Turn the handle firmly but steadily; do not use a long pipe wrench for leverage, because a snapped stem can turn a small leak into a big one. If it will not move, try the valve on the house side of the meter, and if that fails, call your water supplier. Afterward, have the old valve replaced with a modern quarter-turn ball valve so it works when you need it. When you need main shut-off valve replacement in Pottsville, our team is ready to help.
Label it today
Once you find the main shut-off, tag it with a bright label so anyone in the house can find it, and show family members how to close it. While you are at it, locate the shut-offs under each sink and behind each toilet, and the cold supply valve on top of the water heater. Test each valve once a year so it does not seize. Our guide What To Do If A Pipe Bursts explains the next steps. We are committed to making plumbing emergencies in Pottsville simple and reliable to handle.