24 Hour Plumbing Service

Residential Leak Detection Services

Kwiatkowski Plumbing provides 24 hour emergency plumbing service. Offers prompt 24 hour service in the event of a broken pipe, major leak or other plumbing or septic emergency. To minimize water damage, you should quickly turn off the water to your home.

How To Turn Off The Main Water Valve To Your Home

Most one and two family dwellings have two places to shut off the water. The first main shutoff valve is at the curb or property line connection. The second is near the point where the water service enters the home. In most cases, it will be easier for you to access the second which may also be connected to the same pipe as your water hose.

You can also shut the water off from within your home. It will still cut off your home’s entire water supply and allow you to open up any pipe in the house, as necessary. Check the inside perimeter with the cut off valve located near the perimeter of the house. If you have a basement, look at eye-level or ground level - depending on how your basement is situated.

If you are still having trouble finding the cut off valve even after physically looking in all the right places, you can check your property’s inspection report. This is typically obtained in the final stages of the home buying process and this report will show you where the valve and most of the time provide a photo as well. When you are able to find the main water valve, turn the handle clockwise to turn it off. In some cases, you will see it has a knife-style valve.

Image 1 (above) shows a properly installed main water shutoff valve on the bottom with a separate drain valve on top. The main shutoff valve is closed by turning the handle in a clockwise direction and the drain valve is opened on by turning the handle in the counterclockwise direction in order to “bleed” the water left in the plumbing supply system. There is another valve located at the start of your home’s water main, typically at the boundary line along the street. You will be able to locate a utility box, either metal or plastic, at ground-level. However, even when you can see this utility box and feel as if you know what you are doing, you are better off calling an emergency plumber.

Image 2 shows the main water shutoff valve in the curbside box with the water meter. This valve is different from the valve shown above in that it normally requires a “key” to operate. This key is a special wrench fitted at the end of a long handle (available at most hardware stores). Though other tools may be used, only a proper key should be used in order to avoid breaking the valve stem. When this happens, the local water department will have to turn off the water supply to the neighborhood or a temporary valve will have to be installed until the damaged valve stem can be repaired properly.

Because of what can go wrong into searching and shutting off the main water valve to your home, calling a professional is typically best choice. If you try to take on this project on your own, without proper knowledge or tools, you will find yourself in need of a 24 hour emergency plumbing service particularly in situations which has become worse.

When searching for expert plumbers, make sure you hire only the best. With Kwiatkowski Plumbing, you get 24/7 help for plumbing emergencies, bathroom and kitchen remodeling projects, commercial construction, and more. For information, call (412) 221-5404 now!

​24 Hour Emergency Plumbing Service offer complete residential solutions from leak detection and repair to kitchen and bath remodeling.

Whatever your needs are, Pittsburgh Plumbing Services is there to help, 24 hours a day. 7 days a weeks, 365 days a year. We can handle all of your general contracting needs including bathroom and kitchen remodeling. Commercial & resturant construction.