Water main

[jonnyGURU]

So, in my house EVERY SINGLE FAUCET drips. Including the showers.

I need to fix this.

In Florida, shutting off the water was easy. There's be a big box in the ground in the front yard, pop the cover off and there's a valve.

Now I'm up in Illinois and there's no big box in the yard.

What IS in the yard is a pipe sticking up out of the ground. I'm very familiar with this pipe because I have to steer the damn mower around it every other week.

Is this my shut-off valve? At the top of this pipe is a hex head that looks like it can be turned with an 11/16. I hesitate to attack this thing with a socket wrench since I have no idea what this pipe is and I'm in fear that water is going to shoot up out of it or something.

 

[IronWing]

Look in the basement. The shutoff valves are often installed inside to the house to prevent freezing.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Look in the basement. The shutoff valves are often installed inside to the house to prevent freezing.

Oh.... Makes sense. No freezing in Florida. The basement is finished. This might be an interesting weekend.

EDIT: How the fsck did post 3 and post 2 get flipped?!??!?!?

 

[Jumpem]

I'm in northern, NY. Mine is in the first floor utility room.

 

[jaha2000]

umm are you in the county?
Big pipe sticking out of the ground usually means well???

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: jaha2000
umm are you in the county?
Big pipe sticking out of the ground usually means well???

LOL.... no well. We're on city water. Every front yard has a pipe with a hex head in it. That's why I thought it was the water cut-off. Some people are lucky enough to have their driveway or front door walk way over/around the pipe so they don't have to navigate around it with the lawnmower.

 

[jaha2000]

Even still
YOu should have shutoffs inside the house,
Not terribly useful to have a water issue in your house and have to run outside in the dead of winter with 2 feet of snow on the ground to shut the water off to your house..

 

[iGas]

Not sure that you should have "guru" in your nick, because in this instant it is proven that you are a newbie

There should be a utility access in your yard or on the street with water meter and shut off valve. In most North America jurisdiction it is illegal for you to access and tamper with the utility shut off valve with out permission. Phone the water authority for your locality is the best way to get access and permission to the utility shut off.

Water main can be from the street in front of your house, shared right of way in the back yard, or the side of house. Find out where the water enter the house, and there should be a shut off valve in the first 3 feet of pipe from that entered from outside wall, along with PRV (pressure reducing valve). Shut the water off and repair the leaks, check the PRV pressure setting (shouldn't be more than 80 PSI, default is 70-75 PSI) by using a test pressure gauge at hose bib. Replace PRV if it has failed or install a new PRV if there isn't one.

Every faucet in house is leaking suggests that there could be a pressure spike in the water main, and your house may not have a PRV, or the PRV failed/incorrectly set. Most faucets fails at 90-100 PSI, however there are some that are design to operate up to 85 PSI, and with age they can fail at lower pressure.

It is possible that the pipe sticking out of the ground is your service water pipe, but it could also be the in ground sprinkler pipe, gas pipe, or electrical conduit.

Picture of pipe would help......what kind of guru that ask a question with out pics?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Find the shutoff in your house. You should really know where that is anyway in case you have a major leak.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: iGas
Not sure that you should have "guru" in your nick, because in this instant it is proven that you are a newbie

I think someone who has his hardware review ratings used by newegg in their product descriptions, qualifies as a guru.

 

[SammyJr]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
So, in my house EVERY SINGLE FAUCET drips. Including the showers.

I need to fix this.

In Florida, shutting off the water was easy. There's be a big box in the ground in the front yard, pop the cover off and there's a valve.

Now I'm up in Illinois and there's no big box in the yard.

What IS in the yard is a pipe sticking up out of the ground. I'm very familiar with this pipe because I have to steer the damn mower around it every other week.

Is this my shut-off valve? At the top of this pipe is a hex head that looks like it can be turned with an 11/16. I hesitate to attack this thing with a socket wrench since I have no idea what this pipe is and I'm in fear that water is going to shoot up out of it or something.

The pipe sticking up is the valve for the Water Department to shut off your water.

Look for a valve with a handle. Mine has been yellow and been located next to the water heater. If the owner who finished the basement didn't leave access to the handle, then he's a jackass.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: SammyJr
The pipe sticking up is the valve for the Water Department to shut off your water.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: iGas
Not sure that you should have "guru" in your nick, because in this instant it is proven that you are a newbie

Haha... well, like I said... In Florida we had a box in the yard. There is no inside cut off because we don't have basements in Florida. I haven't lived outside of Florida for 20 years. So naturally, I see something that looks like a pipe with somesort of valve on it outside, I'm going to assume that's my cut-off.

I'm fixin' to go in the basement now. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Well, behind my kid's computer desk was a panel. I opened it up and there's a meter with an in and out valve. So that's it.

Thanks for the help. I like this better than turning a valve off outside. Seriously, in Florida your only meter and valve are out in the front... then again, it doesn't snow in Florida so that's not at all a big deal.

I think I might tackle the kitchen and shower today.