Make Sure you Always Turn off the Right Valve in an Emergency

A plumbing emergency in Brooklyn requires immediate action. If a pipe freezes, bursts, or suddenly has a backup of flooding water, you need to shut off the water immediately. Or maybe you smell a natural gas leak and need to turn off the gas tap before your home fills with the toxic vapor and leads to a major fire hazard.

If you don’t know where your main valves are, turning off the taps to stem further damage is not only impossible but could be dangerous. And, you don’t want to turn the wrong valve.

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Brooklyn’s family plumber, can help. We take protecting our neighbors seriously, so we offer a free emergency valve tagging service. By labeling each valve in your home, we make it easy to find the right one quickly. Once a leak has been stopped, Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is there for you. We’re available 24/7 to come out and fix the problem. Our expert technicians also offer advice on the steps to take to minimize further damage to your home.

While you’re waiting for our quick response, remember a few extra steps to minimize water damage to your home:

• Clear up standing water with a wet-dry vacuum or a sump pump/ejector pump.
• Remove any wet or damaged items from the affected areas.
• Use fans and a dehumidifier to help speed up drying.

What Are Shut-Off Valves?

If this is your first home, you may never have had to deal with an emergency plumbing situation. You may not be aware that homes have shut-off valves to block the flow of hazardous materials in the event of an urgent situation.

When the valve is closed, it creates a barrier that prevents the water, gas or other substance from flowing through the pipeline. You’ll help limit the potential damage and danger.

But most of the homes in the Brooklyn area are older and these valves may be hidden, damaged or unmarked rendering them almost unusable.

Types of Valves

There are two types of emergency shut-off valves: manual and automatic. Both types need to be clearly identified, easily accessible and in good working order.

Manual valves are, as the name states, operated by hand. These shut-off valves can be ball, gate or globe valves. Ball valves are generally used for gas lines. Gate valves are mostly used for water or oil lines. Globe valves are used to close off high-pressure steam applications.

Automatic valves are triggered by sensors that detect the presence of a hazardous substance or when they detect a leak. More and more insurance companies are giving discounts to homeowners who install automatic shut-off valves.

A Word of Caution on Natural Gas Valves

Although we’d like to say valve tagging can make responding to all emergencies easier, there are times when the best response is to leave everything to the professionals. Leaking natural gas lines are a threat to both home and life. If you smell the odor of rotten eggs, it pays to be careful. Immediately leave your house or apartment. Once you’re safe, call 911 and your gas company to report the leak. After you’ve done all that, give Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning a call for professional gas line repair services.

Get Free Valve Tagging 

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Brooklyn’s family plumber, provides a free emergency valve tagging service. We will make sure that each valve is labeled in your home, making it easier for you to find the right one should the need arise. Valued at $295, our emergency valve tagging is free. We take protecting our neighbors seriously. Call us today!

If you don’t know where your main valves are, turning off the taps to stem further damage is not only impossible but could be dangerous. And, you don’t want to turn the wrong valve.