Last year’s biggest cold weather problem
Last year’s biggest cold weather problem
Last winter was a very cold winter for homeowners in Howard County. I had countless clients and friends that had the hose bibs burst causing water to come into the home. For most years, it does not stay cold long
enough to freeze the hose bib line but last year was an exception.
If you are like me, you may not know where the hose bib shut off is and I’ve lived in my current home for over 10 years. After much searching, we discovered the shut off for the front hose bib located about 20 feet from the bib near the water heater. For the hose bib out back, it was just behind the water heater another 15 feet from the actual hose bib. Neither was close to where the water line exits the home. Until last year, we never turned it off but after hearing about so many issues, we searched them out.
Last week at a home inspection, the Inspector could not locate the main water shut off or the hose bib shut offs (most inspectors now label them with info cards). The original owners could offer no guidance. It’s only an issue if it breaks but if it does, it’s a major issue.
Also equally important to know, is the location of the main water shut off. You usually find it near where the water from the street enters the home but if the basement is finished, (and there is no access panel) there maybe not be an easy way to tell.
Don’t wait for an issue to happen! Search the shut offs out (hose bib and main line) and mark them somehow (use a ribbon, card or tape).
Here is a link to the finding the shutoff:
https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/finding-the-main-water-shutoff-valve.html