How To Find Your Water Shut-Off In Green Bay
Knowing where your main water shut-off is in Green Bay can be the difference between a wet floor and a flooded basement. When a pipe freezes and splits in January, or a supply line lets go under a sink, the water keeps coming until that one valve is closed. It takes two minutes to find it on a quiet day and far longer in a panic. Our team has written this guide for homeowners in Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon and Howard. If the valve will not turn or you cannot find it, call (920) 247-2089.
Inside the house
Because the ground here freezes deep, water services are buried well below the frost and come into the house low, through the basement wall or floor. Start in the basement on the side of the house that faces the street and look for a pipe coming through the foundation. The main shut-off is on that pipe, usually just before or just after the water meter. In a house without a basement, check the utility room, the crawl space entry or the area beside the water heater. A round wheel handle closes clockwise over several turns. A lever handle closes with a quarter turn, until it sits across the pipe. Our team is fully committed to reliable plumbing repair in Green Bay.
At the meter
Many homes have a valve on each side of the meter. Either one stops the water to the house, and closing both lets a plumber work on the meter connections. The meter is also a useful leak test: with every tap and appliance off, watch the small flow indicator on the dial. If it keeps moving, water is escaping somewhere. There is also a shut-off at the property line, called the curb stop, under a small cover near the street or sidewalk. It needs a long key, so if the inside valve fails, call your water utility: Green Bay Water Utility in the city, or the municipal water department in De Pere, Ashwaubenon or Howard. We will ensure that your shut-off valve repair in Green Bay is handled by professionals.
If the valve is seized
An old gate valve that has not been turned for decades may be stuck, or may turn and not close. Do not force it with a wrench or a pipe on the handle, because a snapped stem leaves you with a leak you cannot stop. Try firm hand pressure, back and forth a little at a time. If it will not move, or it drips from the stem afterwards, leave it and have it replaced with a quarter-turn ball valve, which is a planned job with the water off at the curb. When you need shut-off valve replacement in Green Bay, our team is ready to help.
Label it today
- Hang a tag on the main valve that says which way is closed.
- Show everyone in the household where it is, including older children.
- Keep the path to it clear of storage.
- Turn it off and on once or twice a year so it stays free.
- Find the individual shut-offs too: under each sink, behind each toilet, above the water heater and on the lines to outdoor faucets.
- Note your water utility's phone number near the valve.
Once you know where the valve is, read what to do if a pipe bursts so the rest of the plan is ready. We are committed to making plumbing repair in Green Bay simple and reliable. Call (920) 247-2089 today for a quote.