Automatic Water Shut-Off Valves: Convenience and Peace of Mind
It’s almost guaranteed that a pipe will burst or leak when you least expect it. Often, these plumbing catastrophes happen when homeowners are away from home, returning to find a wet mess and more than a little cleanup and water damage to contend with. An automatic water shut-off valve can save you from this headache. It’s a small upgrade that you’ll be thankful for if a plumbing disaster strikes.
What Is an Automatic Water Shut-Off Valve?
A water shut-off valve is one of those small, unappreciated parts of a home that most homeowners don’t even think about until they absolutely need to. When a pipe bursts or leaks or you find yourself in the middle of a plumbing project that requires turning off water to your home, all of a sudden, the shut-off valve becomes pretty darn important, since it allows you to shut off water to your entire house.
Every home is required to have a water shut-off valve. It’s usually located on the plumbing pipes near the point where water (either city water or well water) enters your home. A turn of the handle, and you stop the flow of water into the entire house.
An automatic water shut-off valve takes this concept a step further by shutting the water off when it detects abnormal water pressure. The real bonus: if a leak or pipe burst happens when you’re not home, you won’t come home to a flooded, waterlogged mess.
There are several reasons why you might want one of these valves installed:
- You live in a cold region, where freezing pipes are an issue.
- Your area experiences severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, or flooding.
- The valve in your home is difficult to access or operate.
- You only live in your home for part of the year or travel extensively.
How Do Automatic Water Shut-Off Valves Work?
So, yes, they’re pretty handy, but exactly how does an automatic water shut-off valve work? The most straightforward type of valve is a whole-house automatic shut-off valve, though there are also what’s known as point-of-use versions, such as automatic washing machine water shut-off valves. In either case, the concept is pretty much the same.
Automatic shut-off valves work by monitoring the flow of water through the plumbing system. If the valve detects an irregular flow of water or water flowing for an extended period, it will automatically close, preventing more water from going through the pipes.
Automatic Water Shut-Off Valve Service in Jackson County, MO
If you live in the Kansas City area and are considering upgrading to an automatic water shut-off valve, the pros at Mission Plumbing, Heating & Cooling are here to help! Give us a call at (913) 347-5425 or schedule service online anytime.