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Shutting off outside water

January 6, 2014 By Doug Francis

When an agent in my office asked me to check on a vacant house in Arlington Virginia that she had on the market a few years ago, I opened the front door and knew something was incredibly wrong.

inside water supply ball valve

In this position the water is off

I heard water gushing downstairs.

There must have been six inches of water on the floor, and I could see water shooting out of a burst water pipe. Although it probably wasn’t the smartest decision (since there was a possibility of electrocution), I flipped on my flashlight and found the water shut-off valve.

As 2014 kicks off, a Polar Vortex or an Arctic blast with temperatures in the single digits is about to hit Northern Virginia. Al Roker calls this Polar Vortex an “Arctic Hurricane” because it is a low pressure system essentially pushing aside any normal jet stream air currents.

With that in mind, here is an important tip for the day…

Polar Vortex action-item for homeowners

What you need to do is make sure your outside house bibs are shut off from the inside of your home.

Winter Water Spigot side of house

An outside water spigot.

Your hose bibs are on the outside of your house often in the front and back. If you have a sink in your garage, outdoor shower or a pipe to your shed then those need to be winterized too.

The process is easy but needs to be done before the Polar Vortex hits.

  1. Locate the spigot’s supply valve inside your home.
  2. Turn that valve off.
  3. Turn open outside valve to drain water.
  4. Open pressure relief valve (see on top of this spigot) to fully drain all water.

If you can only do the first three items then you are in much better shape than you were 5-minutes ago!

I hope the best to all of you as this polar air moves in and chills D.C. with the coldest air in 20 years.

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Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: Northern Virginia, real estate

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

I’m so excited that you found me! Yes, this site covers real estate, but also a lot about lifestyle and  living in Vienna, Virginia outside Washington, D.C.

There is a lot of info here, and you can also contact me with any specific real estate questions. And, at home consultations are available too.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Let me help you: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

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