"Have you checked if your main valve's easy to access?"
Good point—can't stress this enough. I'd also suggest giving that valve a gentle turn every few months. Valves can seize up over time, and trust me, wrestling with a stuck valve during a burst pipe isn't fun... been there, done that.
"Valves can seize up over time, and trust me, wrestling with a stuck valve during a burst pipe isn't fun... been there, done that."
Haha, couldn't agree more—been in that wrestling match myself, and the valve won round one. Another tip I'd add is labeling your main valve clearly. You'd be surprised how quickly common sense evaporates when water's spraying everywhere and panic sets in. A bright tag or sticker can save precious minutes (and your sanity) when things go sideways.
Haha, labeling the valve is spot-on advice. I learned that lesson the hard way a few years back. Had a tenant call me in a panic at 2 am because water was gushing from under the sink. By the time I got there, he was soaked head-to-toe, frantically turning every knob he could find—except the right one, of course. Turns out I'd forgotten to label the main shutoff clearly after some renovations. Lesson learned.
Now I make it a habit to check valves regularly and give them a quick twist every few months to keep them from seizing up. It feels silly at first, but it's worth it. You don't realize how quickly things can spiral until you're ankle-deep in water and your heart's racing like crazy. Better safe than sorry...or soggy.
"Now I make it a habit to check valves regularly and give them a quick twist every few months to keep them from seizing up."
That's solid advice right there. I can't count how many times I've been called out to fix a burst pipe only to find the shutoff valve rusted solid or hidden behind years of clutter. Reminds me of one job where the homeowner had stacked boxes and old paint cans right in front of the main shutoff. Took us a good 10 minutes just to clear a path, all while water was pouring into their basement...
Since then, whenever I'm finishing up a plumbing job, I always take a minute to show the homeowner exactly where the shutoffs are and suggest keeping that area clear. It might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how often people overlook it until they're knee-deep in trouble. A little prep goes a long way when things go sideways.
That's a good reminder—I definitely need to check my shutoff valves again. When I first moved into my place, the inspector pointed out where everything was, but honestly... haven't given it much thought since.
"Took us a good 10 minutes just to clear a path, all while water was pouring into their basement..."
Yikes, that's exactly the kind of scenario I'm trying to avoid! Do you think labeling the valves clearly would help in an emergency, or is that overkill? Curious how others handle it.
