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I recently purchased a 1970's home, and the last owner installed a new vanity in the downstairs bathroom. It appears they had someone remove the indoor water shutoff valve and put a piece of pipe in its place. I still have the outdoor water shut-off valve by the street that needs the special tool (which I have).
My question is, is that normal for someone to do that? Are there other newer houses that don't have interior water shut-off valves? I'm trying to debate on whether to have someone come out and reinstall it. I think it's pretty dumb to get rid of it. I think they did it because the new vanity would have covered it up, and I guess cutting a hole for it under the vanity isn't an option for some people.
I'm talking about shutting off the water for the entire house. If you look under the vanity, there's a small hole that reveals a water pipe without anything else. The round hole is about the size of a round shut-off handle like on a outdoor spigot. The home inspector and I couldn't find the water shut-off valve anywhere else, so we assumed it used to be there before they updated the bathrooms.
I've heard the water shut-off is usually in a bathroom on the lowest floor. I've checked every kitchen cabinet, bathroom, and closet on the first floor. I'm curious more than anything else.
Your house was probably built under the old CABO code-
Not that it makes that much difference, as to today's code.
But yes, by code you are suppose to have "an accessible" shutoff valve near the entrance of the service into the structure. So, if it was in a vanity on the first floor I'll assume that the house is on a slab.
My house was built around that time and the water shut-off valve is inside a wall in the garage. It's behind a vent cover and you'd never know it's there unless you knew enough to question what a vent is doing there.
My house was built around that time and the water shut-off valve is inside a wall in the garage. It's behind a vent cover and you'd never know it's there unless you knew enough to question what a vent is doing there.
That's weird. I checked my garage and workshop because that's where the fuse panel is. Thanks for commenting.
When possible install a whole house water shut off valve with lever at the point just prior to the water going into the house. You should develop the habit of turning the water off whenever you leave the house for more than a full day. So the lever should be easily assessable. This is important enough that you should pay a plumber to do this.
In my 3year old home the main water shutoff lever is in the front yard, before the water meter, in the same 18in deep hole with a plastic cover over it. Remember, no frost line here so freezing not an issue.
My son in the disaster restoration business says the main water leaks they see are from hot water heaters and the water connection to toilets at the toilet end.
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