Water Main Shut Off Tool

[billt460]

It's pretty common out here. People like to be able to shut off water to the inside, while still having water up and running for plants and irrigation outside.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

They also make 1/4 turn hose bibbs with a full-flow ball valve: Everbilt Brass Hose Bibb

Not full flow at all. Look inside and you'll see the ball is much smaller than the pipe id.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

My house is plumbed so I can shut off all of the water to the inside of the house and garage, (slop sink, washing machine, water heater, and water softener). But still allow for water to flow for all of the outside irrigation. This was something the previous owner had done. (It has become a fairly common plumbing rework out here).

Naturally, if I shut it off at the main at the street, it kills everything. Which is what I had to do to complete my project, because I was tapping into an outlet that was plumbed for irrigation when the home was built. (Which is the reason you see wires wrapped around the pipe for the irrigation timer).

But out here it should be made code that all houses should be plumbed this way. Reason being is we have a lot of snowbirds that live here. And or retired people who travel a lot. They own houses that sit empty several months out of the year. (Usually from early April through Summer until late September or early October).

They have to leave their water on, otherwise all of their outside plants and trees will die. So while their house sits unoccupied, if their icemaker, RO system, or washing machine hoses fail, their entire house will flood. (Plumbing is only as strong as the weakest link).

Or if they get a pin hole leak in any inside or attic plumbing or faucet connection, it will also flood. Water damage from plumbing failures costs the insurance industry the most of any other type of damage in homes today.

By splitting the plumbing from inside and outside, this danger can be eliminated.

I did the same. Irrigation is a requirement almost all year where I live.

 

[zzyzzx]

It's pretty common out here. People like to be able to shut off water to the inside, while still having water up and running for plants and irrigation outside.

As an East coast person who lives in normal houses with things like basements and attics, I find your setup weird.

 

[billt460]

Another reason to have seperate shut offs for both the inside and outside are swimming pools. Every pool out here has autofill. It's little more than a float valve setup similar to what you have on your toilet tank.

It keeps the pool filled to an exact level all the time. In the hot, dry Summers out here, pools can lose more than an inch a day from evaporation. Depending on surface area. By having separate inside / outside shutoffs, it allows outside water to flow at all times, while keeping the inside plumbing off throughout the house.

 

[alarmguy]

Our new home constructed in 2023 came with a Moen water shut off system
If it detects a leak, it will automatically shut off the water plus an app on your phone. Have no idea if it’s any good. We never downloaded the app.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C03D01...ref_=asc_df_B00C03D01Q&plpRedirect=mhFallback

 

[burbguy82]

Yesterday I had to shut off the water at the street, because I was installing a outside Ball Valve for another hose connection at the opposite side of the house. Anyway, I struggled trying to shut it off because I didn't have the proper long "T" wrench the city workers all have.

I ended up on my knees, reaching inside the box, screwing around with a pair of Crescent wrenches to turn the key. I got it off, and back on again, but enough of that. Tomorrow I'm going to Home Depot and buying one.... This one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/28-in-S.../a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a#product-section-qa

I got to thinking if I wasn't home and something happened, my wife wouldn't have a clue how to shut it off. I'll keep this in the garage, right by the door. Then I'll let her do it so she knows how. (The main shut off by the house is too much of a pain to get to).

Anyway my project turned out OK. I went from a soldered copper cap, to this. This will give maximum flow when I hook it up to my pressure washer. Which was the object of this whole exercise of annoyance, sore knees, and back pain.

View attachment 350955View attachment 350956

Do you directly hook up you pressure washer to that? If so, I suggest you place some type of backflow protection device.