Water Shut Off Valve Inspection

Shut Off Valves
Water Heater - The shutoff valve should be on the supply or cold side. Typically, there is no shut off valve on the “out” or “hot” side.

Hydronic Boiler - Find the water shut off valve at the water supply to the boiler, and if the unit supplies domestic hot water, there will also be a shut off to the domestic water coil.

Exterior Hose Bibs
All hose bibs should be checked to insure that water flows from them. There are two types of hose bibs:

Anti-frost - The anti-frost hose bib is a unit that goes through the wall, with the seat of the valve located in the heated portion of the house (approximately 8 to 14 inches in from the exterior). This usually prevents the faucet from freezing and rupturing. It is always necessary to remove garden hoses from hose bibs in cold months, to prevent freezing and damage not only to the hose, but to that section of the pipe immediately inside the exterior wall. The sections have been know to contain residual water and are subject to freezing if not allowed to fully drain.

Sill cock or Old Style Soldered - This is the older, standard hose bibb. The air bleeder at the valve should be opened in colder months, to allow the water to drain out.