Summary:
- Know the Location: It’s crucial to know where the main water shut-off valve is in your home to prevent damage during emergencies or when leaving town.
- When to Turn Off Water: Shut off the water to prevent damage from a burst pipe, leaking appliance, or when going out of town for an extended period.
- Where to Find the Valve: The valve may be in your basement, crawlspace, garage, or near the water heater. In some cases, it’s located outside in a water meter box.
- Tools for Shutting Off: Most indoor valves can be turned off by hand, but outdoor valves often require a meter key or a substitute tool like a crescent wrench.
- Turning the Valve: Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water and counterclockwise to turn it back on. Always release pressure from pipes by running water until it stops.
Even if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, it’s important to know how to shut off the main water valve in your house. In fact, make sure everyone in your home knows where the water shut off valve is located so you can react quickly if disaster strikes.
Where to Find the Water Shut off Valve
Many people ask, ‘Where is the main water shut-off valve in my house?’ because it’s not always in plain sight. This can be problematic if you have a plumbing disaster and need to quickly locate your home water shut off valve to limit damage! The entry point of the water line into your home could be located in a few different places:
- If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the valve is probably on a subterranean wall near the front of the house.
- If your home is built on a slab, the main water shut off valve is most likely located near the water heater or in the garage.
- If you can’t locate the water shut off valve on the interior of your home, it’s time to take a gander outside. Look near the street and see if you can find a covered box buried in the ground, called the water meter box. This box houses your residential water shut off valve.
- You can find water valve shut offs for individual appliances inside your home, too. Your toilet water shut off valve will likely be behind or beside the toilet. You may also find a water valve underneath your kitchen sink and near the water heater.
Are you still asking ‘Where is the water shut off valve in my home?’ Call your local Mr. Rooter® Plumbing for help.
The Tools You Need for Your Home Water Shut Off Valve
Different types of valves have different tool requirements:
- Water valve shut offs located inside the home can usually be turned off by hand. Simply turn it clockwise to stop the water flow.
- Valves located in a water meter box outside the home often require a meter key. You can purchase this at your local hardware or home improvement store. If you don’t want to make the trip, you can substitute a meter key for a crescent wrench and screwdriver.
Which Way Do You Turn the Home Water Valve?
In your panic to turn off your home main water shut off valve, you may realize you don’t know which way it’s supposed to turn! Therefore, learning which way to turn the water valve off in advance of an emergency can be helpful to avoid stress and frustration.
Turn the valve clockwise, to the right, to turn it off. When you’re ready to turn it on again, turn it counterclockwise (to the left). Now that you know how to shut off the main water valves, you can be well-prepared for any plumbing emergency!
Top Reasons to Turn Off Your Water Valve
Most of the time, you want water to flow undisturbed throughout your home. After all, indoor plumbing is the key to washing dishes, cleaning clothes, bathing, showering, brushing your teeth, and going to the bathroom. Why would you need to turn off the water?
- In reaction to a disaster: A burst or leaking pipe doesn’t give you much time to act. If you can quickly shut off the water at the water valve shut off point, you stem the tide and could potentially prevent thousands of dollars in structural damage.
- As a preventive measure: If you’re going out of town for a few days or more, it’s wise to find the water turn off valve and switch off your water supply before you depart. After all, if you’re not home to react quickly to a ruptured washer hose, dripping water heater, or leaking valve line, you could return to a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Put your mind at ease and shut off the main water valve before you leave town.
Recommended Precautions
Hold on, you’re not finished just yet! Once you turn off the main water valve, you should take the precaution of releasing pressure in the pipes. Do this by turning on the hot and cold water from a faucet in your home until the water no longer runs. This simple knowledge can save you time, money, stress, and heartache down the road. For more helpful plumbing tips and tricks, please contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing® today.
