Use and Care Manual

12
If the emergency calls for the main
water system to be shut off and you
have an electric hot water heater,
the electric water heater must also
be shut off. The electricity can be
shut off by either removing the fuse
from the fuse box or switching the
appropriate breaker to the
“off” position.
The electricity to the hot water tank
should not be turned back on until
the water tank has been refilled with
water. Consult your owner’s manual
for details.
Locate the kitchen sink
shutoff valves.
Below your kitchen sink, you will
probably find the shutoff valves for
both the hot and cold water supply
lines. In some cases, the valves will
be in the basement, just below the
kitchen. Sometimes valves may be
You can find
the names of
plumbers in your
local telephone
directory, or ask
for recommendations
from your builder, friends
or neighbors. A quick call to
make sure that the plumber offers
24-hour service is a good idea.
Take a plumbing discovery tour
of your new house.
The plumbing system in your home
includes a series of emergency shutoff
valves. Take a tour of your home to find
each of these shutoff valves. The items
you should take on your tour include
a flashlight, adjustable wrench, pliers
and some way to label each valve
once identified.
First, locate your home’s main
shutoff valve.
First and most important, find the
main water shutoff valve to your home.
If you have city water, this valve is
usually located in the basement on
the pipe coming through the wall on
the street side of your house (near the
water meter). If you have a well, this
valve is usually located on the pipe
coming through the wall on the well
side of your house.
Make sure that the area where the
valve is located is kept clear and free
of obstruction. Tag the valve so that
you will be able to find it easily in an
emergency. By shutting off this valve,
you will shut off water to your entire
house. This is an instant action you
can take for serious situations.
IMPORTANT: If you shut the
water off at the main valve,
make sure the hot water tank
is turned down to pilot. If
you have a hot water heating
system, you must also check
to make sure the furnace has
a sufficient supply of water
so it does not run dry. Each
radiator also has an individual
shutoff valve.