WASHINGTON — If everyone in your home doesn’t know how to turn off the water, you might want to show them.
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to burst, and the D.C. area will be getting a solid shot of winter weather over at least the next week.
“If you want to prevent huge problems, one thing you should do is locate the main shut-off valve in your house,” said Kevin Brasler, executive editor at Checkbook.org.
“That way, if you have a leak, you don’t have to run around trying to figure out how to shut off that branch to that leaking appliance or toilet or whatever — you’ll know where to go to shut down the water to the entire house,” Brasler said.
Once you’ve located the main shut-off valve, try using it to make sure it isn’t stuck.
“Shut it off and then turn it on again to make sure it works. Sometimes it requires a little WD-40 or something to unfreeze it,” Brasler said.
If you’re choosing a plumber, Brasler recommends shopping around; surveys reveal prices can vary dramatically among businesses.
Questions Brasler recommends you ask a plumber about charges include:
- What is your minimum charge to show up and diagnose a problem?
- Does that price include any time, say, an hour or half-hour, to begin repairs?
- How are charges for repairs calculated — by the hour or by the job?
One mistake a lot of repair customers make is allowing a plumber to charge for repairs by the hour, instead of getting a fixed price.
“Most plumbers these days will give you a set price once they’ve come and looked at the problem and determined what’s wrong,” Brasler said.
Through a special arrangement with the nonprofit Washington Consumers’ Checkbook, WTOP.com readers can have a look at Checkbook ratings and price comparisons for plumbers for a limited time.
Consumers’ Checkbook/Center for the Study of Services is an independent nonprofit consumer organization founded in 1974. It has for more than 40 years been an innovator in providing information to help consumers make smarter choices.
