Save Your Home from Preventable Damage with Some Pre-Disaster Preparation 

Time is never on your side when it comes to a disaster like a burst pipe. In even the few minutes of panic that come with this situation, you have the potential for hundreds of gallons of water’s worth of damage to the residence. No time to lose. Where is your shutoff valve? Every minute you spend searching during a crisis means a longer restoration, so prepare in advance by knowing where and what to look for in the house. 

How to Find Your Main Shut-Off Valve

Even before you consider water mitigation for your South Point home, you need to stop the water. The shutoff valve for all water entering your residence is often located in the basement or crawlspace. Most Ohio homes have a basement, and with the service line needing to be buried at least thirty-two inches from the surface, you can anticipate the water line entering this subterranean portion of the property. 

Types of Shut-Off Valves

  • Gate Valves: Gate valves use a round handle that often takes anywhere from ten to twenty revolutions (to the right) to close. 

  • Ball Valves: These feature a flat lever appearance and are the current standard in modern construction. It only takes one quarter turn to close it, typically when the lever is perpendicular to the pipe. 

Test Your Shut-Off Valve Twice a Year

Don’t wait for a crisis to find out your shut-off valve is stuck or broken. If it won't turn or won’t close fully, it needs to be removed and replaced. A malfunctioning shutoff valve is useless to you. Gate valves, especially, can rust inside and fail after years of just sitting there.

Here’s how to check your shut-off:

  • Slowly turn the valve to the closed position.

  • Open a faucet on your lowest floor—make sure the water’s really off.

  • Turn the valve back to open.

  • Run water through the house to flush out any trapped air.

When Shutting Off the Water Isn’t Enough

Shutting off the water is no end-all to the problem. By the time you shut off the main valve, the damage can already be ugly. A split washing machine hose pours out 400 to 500 gallons every hour. If it takes you just five minutes to react, that’s 25 to 40 gallons soaking floors, walls, and everything nearby. Water doesn’t just sit there—it gets into subfloors, wall cavities, insulation, and drywall. 

Why You Need Professional Mitigation

Lightspeed Restoration of Ashland goes beyond cleanup. We prevent the damage from worsening. Our industrial extractors pull moisture out of deep inside your walls and floors. Thermal imaging finds water you can’t even see. Then our commercial dehumidifiers and air movers dry everything out, fast—so mold and secondary damage never get a chance.

If you’re facing a water emergency, shut off your main valve, then call Lightspeed Restoration of Ashland right away at (606) 896-2084.

 

Lightspeed Restoration of Ashland, KY

(606) 896-2084 

 

https://g.co/kgs/oXFKYGV

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