Protecting Your Home From Water Leaks When You Are Away

This subject is close to my heart. I have been called many times by family members “watching” a house for a relative or friend who have a leaking ice-maker supply line or valve or a leaking washing machine supply hose/bib that I want to scream “Turn off your main water supply line when you leave for even an overnight absence!” (Unless, of course, you have other systems that require a supply of fresh water-then, at least turn off the individual valves to the ice maker or washing machine).

You should have a simple saddle valve that allows you to turn off your ice maker. You also should have a spigot-type valve for your washer supply hoses for shutting off both the hot and cold water supply. But, even turning off the valves doesn’t prevent the issue of a leaky valve.

Typical Saddle Valve

To safeguard your home from leaks, turn off the main supply at the water meter. Sometimes these valves, particularly if left unused for long periods of time, can leak when opening or closing the valve. The easiest way to shut off your main supply is to have a ball valve installed on the main supply line, right after the main shutoff valve. A ball valve requires that you just rotate a lever on the valve 90°. Ball valves rarely stick or leak and are very easy to turn off and on.

Typical Ball Valve