Open your gate valves slowly

By Mark van der Feyst

When using a gate valve to flow water to control a hand line or whatever, open the vale in a slow manner. This can be accomplished by opening the valve partially to allow water to fill the line first, then fully open the valve to allow the water to pressurize the line.

Doing this prevents water hammer and an uncontrolled hand line. It will also make the firefighter on the nozzle pleased with the subtle increase in pressure of the hand line.