One was the cold water shutoff under the kitchen sink.

That one just kinda exploded. It was a contractor-grade plastic valve. Happened in the middle of the night, but the hissing sound of water spraying woke me up after maybe an hour or so. So probably 200ish gallons of water dumped on the 2nd floor of the house.

The other one happened while I was renovating a hundred year old house, but hadn't moved in yet.. While the bathroom was completely demolished, the shutoff valve in front of an exposed pipe started leaking. It never gushed water, but it poured a steady trickle through the house for a day or so.

So anytime I do anything with plumbing, I replace all the valves with brass ball valves (not plastic, and not gate valves).

Never had a fire in the house, but it would be an interesting debate whether fire or water is worse. I swear purely from a headache and annoyance perspective, a total loss in a fire (assuming everyone is OK) might be better than having significant water damage. With water, there is always the lingering question of what got wet, and will there be a mold problem down the road. I swear just bulldozing a house and starting over might be easier than trying to fix water damage.

In response to this post by MP4VT2004

Posted: 03/15/2018 at 02:06AM

Have any of you ever tried any of the Iris smart devices from Lowes? -- MP4VT2004 03/14/2018 10:33PM

You might also get a discount on your Homeowners Insurance. ** -- Stork 03/15/2018 05:15AM

If you have never had water damage, you are right to be paranoid -- Tafkam Hokie 03/14/2018 10:59PM

True words!!! Every time I leave the lake house, the main water valve..... -- F4EHokie 03/15/2018 09:44AM

Heck, I shut off the water to the house whenever I leave for >48 hrs ** -- Tafkam Hokie 03/15/2018 5:44PM

Same here. Every time we are gone for more than 2-3 days I shut off the -- AZHokie59 03/15/2018 1:50PM

Good idea. Just be sure there is some water still in the toilet tanks. -- MP4VT2004 03/15/2018 12:45PM

We are replacing our washer and I just ordered a leak detector/shutoff -- Galenahokie 03/15/2018 08:34AM

I let the washer hose drip- it was just a little drip -- bigbadbird 03/15/2018 07:16AM

Exactly. I want no part of that. -- MP4VT2004 03/14/2018 11:31PM

One was the cold water shutoff under the kitchen sink. -- Tafkam Hokie 03/15/2018 02:06AM

Ugh, gate valves are the bane of my existence. -- MP4VT2004 03/15/2018 11:02AM

Building code in our area now requires a sprinkler system in all new houses -- Galenahokie 03/15/2018 08:32AM

Can you use chemical system in the ktchen. Where are you at physically? -- 48zip 03/15/2018 11:23AM

Located Eastern Shore of MD. Don't think chemical system is approved ** -- Galenahokie 03/16/2018 08:20AM

Yep. MD was discussed as a state that had these regs at that time. Thanks ** -- 48zip 03/16/2018 10:08AM

So if the Internet goes off, you are toast? ** -- UTPr0sim 03/14/2018 10:59PM

No, the smoke detector will still operate as a standalone alarm... -- MP4VT2004 03/14/2018 11:29PM

One was the cold water shutoff under the kitchen sink.

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