Did you know there is an emergency shut off valve under each of your home faucets?  Do you have the   ……

…..old style turn valve

…..or the new 1/4 turn valve. 

These are used for simple maintenance when repairing the toilet or faucet.  In extreme circumstances the individual faucet can be turned off to stop a flooding incident.  This could also save you an emergency plumbing call in the middle of the night by not having to shut all the water off to your entire house.  Do you know where the shut off is for your entire house?  This is where the cold water comes in from the utility line.   I had to ask where mine was.  It is in the utility room.  Behind a mountain of clothes, baskets and stuff.  If we had an emergency and needed to turn the water off from there we would be in a big mess.  I had to clean up to show you the picture of our shut off valve. 

Do you see what I see?  The same kind of rust I saw on one of the hot water heaters.  I am guessing this is a slow leak or just a leak at one time.  Another question for Bear?  HONEY??!?!?!

While I was in the utility room I noticed something else.  I thought it was electrical but found out it was plumbing.  More about that next week…..