After shutting off the main valve, ensure you drain the water from all the fixtures. In summer, the temperature of the water raises the pressure inside the pipes. If there is a crack, parts of your plumbing could burst. It is even more critical to drain hoses and faucets in the winter.
Turning the water off isn't a bad idea, but as someone mentioned, draining isn't necessary unless you're worried about freezing. The worry is about turning the water back on and the water hammer that results from the lines filling suddenly. I would try and turn the pressure on slowly to reduce that shock to the pipes.
Make sure you open every single solitary faucet. And then leave those faucets open until it's time for you to turn the water back on. If necessary, make yourself a list of all the faucets that you have left open so you can remember to close them again before you turn the water back on.
Immediately after you turn off the main water valve, turn on a tub or sink faucet to its highest level, for both hot and cold connections. This relieves the pressure in the plumbing lines, and also ensures a full shut-down. Continue to open faucets around the house to drain down the home.
Immediately after water service was restored to your home, the service provider should have flushed cold water from an outdoor hose bib or basement utility sink for 30 minutes. BEFORE YOU START 1. Always use COLD water when you rinse the pipes.
Small amounts of trapped water can quickly turn into ice when temperatures drop. As water freezes and expands, it can still cause the pipes to burst if you don't drain them properly. This expansion can create significant pressure within the pipe walls, leading to cracks or complete bursts.
Remember, the toilet tank fills up right after a flush and remains that way until it is used again. That means it should be full in the event your water supply is cut off, so you still have one flush to burn. The wise homeowner saves that flush to use only in the event of an emergency.
The duration varies depending on the size of the house, the complexity of the plumbing system, and the water flow. However, for an average-sized home, it might take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours to fully drain the system.
Never turn the handle quickly. After the water supply is back on, open each faucet, one at a time, and let the water run for a couple of minutes to restore water pressure and flush out any lingering air in the plumbing system.
When you shut off a faucet, the water still has some force, which has to be absorbed, causing the pipe will flex. If the pipe is near wood, it will bang against the wood. You can stop this plumbing noise problem by installing water hammer arrestors on the offending water lines.
Overall, it's best that you take heed and drip your faucets when temperatures dip below freezing. A simple trickle of hot and/or cold water—both from faucets inside and outside the home—can prevent you from having to deal with a much larger issue (and bill!) in the long run.
By turning off your main water supply and running all faucets for 10-15 minutes, you force any trapped air through your water pipes.
OPEN ALL FAUCETS
Starting with the top floor pushes air into the system and helps the flow of water. Make your way through each floor, opening faucets as you go. Head down to the basement or the lowest level and open the faucet in the laundry tub or sink. Give it a few minutes while the water drains from each faucet.
It's simple, and effective, and it could save you from major headaches when the frost hits. Leaving your outdoor faucets open can help prevent freezing by allowing any remaining water to drain out. This is a simple preventative measure to avoid plumbing issues.
Does shutting off the water affect the water heater? When you go on vacation, it's best to also turn off your water heater, as well as the main water supply. Turning off the source of the heat (gas, electric) while you're away will not damage your water heater.
WSSC suggests running all COLD water taps for about five minutes or until the water runs clear. Begin with the lowest faucet in your home or business and then open the other faucets one at a time, moving from your lowest floor to your highest.
Although many homeowners believe turning off their property's water supply will prevent pipe bursting, it isn't always the case. Pipes can still burst in freezing temperatures even after you turn off your home's water.
Pipes: Turn off water supply to the house and drain pipes to protect them from freezing. You can empty pipes by running the water and flushing the toilets after the water has been turned off. After draining the pipes, it is a good idea to leave the faucets open to prevent pressure build up from any water that remains.
If your faucet is dripping water after it is shut off, this may be indicative of a loose or damaged seat washer. Issues with washers is common in sink faucets leaking. The seat washer screw can become loose from repeated use, causing the faucet to drip water or chatter.
Even without running water, you can still have one remaining toilet flush. Your tank stores water that fills after each flush, and depending on when you last used your toilet before shutting the water off, there should still be enough to flush one last time.
Shutting off the water supply when leaving for an extended period can prevent potential leaks or flooding while you're away.
– If your water service has been shut off and recently restored, your pipes need to be flushed for 30 minutes to ensure your safety. Water sitting stagnant in pipes may contain lead, copper and other sediments that are not safe for drinking and cooking.
Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.