Don't Go With the Flow!

Burst pipe plumbing emergencies can strike at any time and catch us unaware. While we wait for our Toronto plumber, water leaks out of the pipe and floods the floor at a rapid rate. Aside from wasting gallons of water, split pipes cause costly water-related damage to walls, floors, and your indoor belongings. Water-related plumbing emergencies can be damage-controlled by closing the water shutoff valve to your Toronto home. Get to know where your water shutoff valve is located should you encounter a water-related plumbing emergency or even a running toilet. Close the water supply and save on money and water.

Home water supply systems contain main and master shutoff valves for stopping water flow to the entire house or to specific plumbing fixtures. Most water meters have a shutoff valve before the meter and one after the meter. Cold-climate properties have their water meter located in warm indoor spaces like basements to prevent freezing complications. Milder-climate homes have their water meter attached to an exterior wall or nestled in an underground box with a removable lid. Between the street’s water main and meter are located a buried curb stop valve and a corporation stop, where your Toronto home’s water supply connects to the water mains. Both the curb stop valve and corporation stop are inaccessible to the public, accessible only to city workers with special tools.

In addition to the water meter, modern Toronto homes also have localized shutoff valves with handles, called fixture supply stops, located on water supply pipes to toilets, faucets, washing machines, water heaters, dishwashers, and water softeners. Closing the water supply to one of the above fixtures is a matter of turning the handle clockwise two to four full turns. Older homes have one fixture supply stop on the water supply to the toilet only.

Your Toronto plumber highly recommends that homeowners get to know their water shutoff valves to avoid expensive water-related damages, high water bills, and water wastage.