| Knowing the main aspects of your electrical service, | | | | a plumber should be called in if you need to turn the |
| gas system and water supply is empowering | | | | supply on or off. |
| information when unexpected events happen in your | | | | Ball valves are strong and last long and you may |
| home, like gas or water leaks or current overloads | | | | replace old gate valves with one. The way they are |
| that leave your room in the dark at night time. | | | | operated is this: when the handle is parallel to the |
| If water comes into your home from a private or | | | | pipe it means that there is water flow, when it is |
| municipal company, you will find an outside water | | | | perpendicular to the pipe (right angle), then the water |
| supply control that the company employees will | | | | is shut off. |
| operate with special tools. If you suspect that there | | | | If you live in the countryside you probably get your |
| is a leak in the larger system, given an unusual water | | | | water from a well, since there may be no municipal |
| flow near the street, call the company to come and | | | | water service there. Find out where the well is |
| investigate and eventually repair the situation. | | | | located and where the water pipe comes into your |
| You should know where the water meter outside | | | | house. You will find a shutoff just like the ones |
| your house is and look inside for the water pipe | | | | described above, only no water meter. If water is |
| supplying your home. What is of special interest to | | | | leaking in your house you can stop the water flow |
| you is where the shutoff valves are placed. In an | | | | by using the shutoff at the pipe or by shutting off |
| older house, the water control is usually a gate valve | | | | the circuit that has the well pump under control. You |
| having a round handle. In newer buildings the | | | | will do that from your electrical panel. |
| straight-handled ball valve is used. | | | | If a private water well supplies your home, the |
| The way a gate valve works is the way any round | | | | waste water will usually go to a septic tank and |
| handled faucet works. Clockwise turns shut the | | | | septic field on your property. If you didn't receive a |
| water supply off, while counterclockwise turns will | | | | map showing where your septic system is when you |
| allow the flow to run normally. Sometimes the valve | | | | moved in, then go to the county Board of Health to |
| may be difficult to turn, but using some lubricant will | | | | get one. You should also find a company to regularly |
| ease the process. Main controls are not operated | | | | pump out your septic tank. The frequency for this |
| often and that is why an old gate valve can be very | | | | operation is chosen depending on the number of |
| difficult to turn on and off after some time of not | | | | people living in your house. |
| being used. If the lubricant doesn't do the trick, then | | | | |