Turning off the water pretty much eliminates the chance that a broken pipe might damage your house while you're gone. It can also save you money on your water bill if you have any leaks in your house. But before you turn off the main valve on your way out the door, there are a few things you might want to consider.
"There is no downside to turning off the water. It takes a little bit of time, and it can save thousands of dollars in potential water damage."
Even if you're only leaving for a few days, it's a great idea to shut off the water supply to your house. It's quick and easy to do and it lets you have one less worry while you're away. You don't need to turn off the water at every valve under sinks, behind the toilet, or near the water heater.
How Long Can You Turn Off Water to a Toilet? Like turning off your toilet's water for a night, it's safe to do so for a week. While you can keep your toilet water off for as long as you'd like, we wouldn't recommend it unless you have a problem with your toilet's plumbing system.
While frequently turning on and off the water can cause too much pressure to be put on the water pipes, turning it off doesn't harm the system.
If your main water supply is turned off for any reason, it's best to shut down the water heater as a precaution until the supply resumes. Continuing to run your water heater when the tank isn't full could cause heat damage to the internal components.
Don't leave home without turning off the water
But disasters can and do happen – and when you're away you can't do anything about minimizing the damage. So, do yourself a favour. Remember to shut off the main water supply to your home any time you're planning to be away for more than 24 hours.
Details: Toilets can collect bacteria, which can cause stains. Short-term: Pour a half cup of chlorine into the bowl (not the tank). Long-term: Do the same. Have a friend periodically flush the toilets while you are gone.
Nothing bad should happen and it's not an irrational thing to do. Turn the main valve slowly (both when turning off and on) to avoid possible water hammer effect that could stress pipe connections. For the same reason, turn taps in the house on slowly when bleeding air after you turn the main supply back on.
A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible. Some leaks are easy to find, such as a dripping faucet or running toilet.
A water shut-off is a primary control that turns off the water supply to your bathroom and kitchen plumbing. For example, it prevents flooding when you are planning to repair a fixture such as a faucet or toilet or when you are faced with a plumbing emergency, like a leak from a water heater or supply line.
After all faucets are open, let the COLD WATER run for at least 30 minutes. During this time, also flush each toilet in your home 2 or 3 times.
Your Home's Main Water Shut Off
Sometimes it can be found along a wall in your garage, or even under your kitchen sink. When turned off, it shuts down all water flowing into your home. As you can imagine, when a pipe bursts, knowing how to turn off that water flow becomes invaluable knowledge.
Generally speaking, most water shut-off valves last between 10 to 20 years. However, they can last longer, depending on the material you choose. For example, brass valves can last about eight to 10 years, while stainless steel can last over 30 years.
NOTE: This valve should always be completely open or completely closed – never leave half-open to control the amount of flow into the house. It is not designed to be left partially open.
As a water heater heats up, the water expands Unless you have an expansion tank, a small amount of water must be allowed to backup into the water mains. If the main water valve is turned off, there is no place for the water to expand into. So, do not turn off the water and leave the water heater on.
Urine and hard water deposits leave hardened mineral deposits around your toilet bowl over time. These deposits form faster when you let pee sit around. In some cases, rings left for too long can be nearly impossible to remove without harsh cleansers that can be worse for the environment than those extra flushes.
Standing water encourages mosquitoes to breed … something you don't want happening at your house. Tip #2 – Leave the toilet seat up and open when away for an extended time.
Clean the Toilet (And Give an Extra Flush)
Before you leave on your trip, give your toilet bowl a quick clean. Then, sprinkle in a bit of baking soda and give it an extra flush to make sure there's no lingering debris in the pipe.
Ball valves may be the most reliable valve and are commonly used for main water shut offs. Similar to gate valves, ball valves should be all the way open to allow the full flow of water or all the way closed to restrict all water from flowing.
Always turn off the water to your home or condo whenever you will be gone for any length of time. In the event of broken pipes, a broken toilet seal, or other water emergencies, this can save you thousands of dollars in water bills and damage to your home or condo.
To prevent damage to your home, it is advisable to turn off the main shut-off valve before going on a vacation. You can find the main valve in the basement, crawlspaces, concrete slab, or the attic. You might also find the main shut-off valve in a utility box near your front sidewalk.