Should we cover the leak before the next freeze to prevent further damage and what steps can we take to fix it?
Asked by Raquel Almeida 
1 month ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
Hey there! We just spotted a leak in our new house. We’re still getting to know the place, so not quite sure where to turn for help. Any idea what might be leaking and if it’s related to the main water line? Also, any tips on how we can go about fixing it? Just a heads up, we missed a freeze warning shortly after moving in and didn’t get around to checking if anything needed to be covered up. Should we take precautions and cover this up before the next freeze hits?
When you twist the blue valve, will that help with the dripping?
Hey, I switched off the blue to stop the drip, then turned off the red to make it stop
Shut off the water
If you close the red handle valve, then check if there is water running to the house. Open up the Woodford frostproof hydrant right next to it.
I think it goes to a sprinkler or another hose bib in a spot like by a shed or something. Seems like it has an air Chuck for blowing out. That’s probably not the main, or else it would definitely freeze.
Is this area outside? Do you reside in a place that has warm weather all year long? I feel like it might freeze there…?
Hey, it’s and it’s a beautiful day here in Denver.
It doesn’t, it stops when I shut off the red one
Seems like there’s a leak coming from a thread. If it’s been cold at night, there’s a chance it may have cracked. Turn off the water at the main using the red valve. It looks like you’ll have to redo that section to repair the leak.
I would assume the red shuts it off…there is likely a shutoff inside the house too. Then there’s a low point drain before the red handle to drain the water. Do you see that air quick connect fitting? It will blow out whatever that line leads to. My guess is the blue handle is being utilized to replace the frozen part. It’s quite risky to have all of that outside. There’s a chance you could rebuild whatever that thing is…sometimes it’s just O rings. Right now, make sure to shut off the red handle, blow out the line, and locate the inside shutoff. Then drain it before the red shutoff.
Thanks for the explanation, . It was really helpful
I have a feeling it connects to your sprinkler system. Once you shut off the red valve, could you connect an air compressor to blow out the lines? There seems to be an air compressor tip on the side. It’s important to make sure everything is completely dry before winter so the lines don’t freeze in the ground. Maybe there’s another shut off valve inside the house to prevent freezing. It should be right before it leads outside.
I’m guessing the red one controls the sprinkler system maintenance. But there must be another one inside the house to shut off for the winter and prevent freezing pipes outside.
Go ahead and close both valves and then replace the parts inside that bell cover
It’s probably Denver, an outdoor sprinkler system that likely cracked from the cold. You must drain it for the winter. There should be an inside cutoff valve with a drain for the system. Act quickly! Just turning off the red valve outside isn’t sufficient. Act quickly.
Thanks, . I’ll take care of it.
Do you have sprinkler heads in your yard? Sprinkler systems need to be drained, and the lines need to be blown out with air to avoid damage. Have a sprinkler company take care of this before the entire system becomes completely ruined and useless.
Thanks, ! We recently discovered that the valves are actually for the sprinkler system.