How to Shut Off Your Water Main (Every Homeowner Needs to Know This)

A pipe bursts. Water is spraying everywhere. You panic. But the first thing you need to do is shut off the water main. This stops the flow and prevents catastrophic water damage to your home.

Every homeowner needs to know where their main water shutoff is and how to turn it off. Not knowing this has cost people tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary water damage.

Where Is Your Water Main Shutoff

The location depends on what type of home you have and when it was built.

Single-family homes (most common). The main shutoff is typically located in the front of your house near the street. It is usually in a covered box or vault buried slightly in the ground. You can find it by looking for a small rectangular concrete or plastic lid in your front yard, usually between the house and the sidewalk. Sometimes it is next to the water meter box.

If you do not have a visible box in the front, check:

- The side of the house along the foundation - Near the water meter location (often on the side) - In a garage or utility room in the back, where the water line enters the house

Older homes (pre-1950s). Sometimes the main shutoff is in the basement or crawl space where the main water line enters the house. You might have both a meter shutoff and a home shutoff in different locations. Condos and multi-unit buildings. Your main shutoff might be in a shared utility area, the garage, or a basement hallway. Check with your HOA or building manager for the exact location if you cannot find it. Newer homes (built 2000s onward). Many newer homes have the main shutoff valve inside the house near where the water enters, often in a garage, utility closet, or laundry room. Check your home inspection report or original paperwork if you built the house.

How to Shut Off the Water

Once you find the shutoff valve, how you turn it off depends on the valve type.

Ball valve (most common in modern homes). This is a small valve with a handle that looks like a lever or ball. When the handle is parallel to the pipe, water is flowing. When the handle is perpendicular to the pipe (at a 90-degree angle), the valve is closed. To turn off the water, simply rotate the handle one quarter turn so it is perpendicular to the pipe. Gate valve (older homes). This is a round valve with a turn screw. Turn it clockwise to close the valve. Keep turning until it stops. Do not force it. It should turn easily if the valve is in good condition. Meter box valve (at the street). In some cases, your home water shutoff is actually at the meter in the street. You cannot just open the meter box yourself. You will need a special meter key (available at any hardware store for $10-$15) to turn the valve inside the box. The key is long with a T-shaped handle. Insert it, turn it counterclockwise, and it closes the valve.

Individual Fixture Shutoffs

In addition to the main shutoff, every plumbing fixture should have its own individual shutoff valve.

Toilets. Behind or to the side of every toilet is a small valve. It looks like a knob. Turn it clockwise to shut off water to that toilet only. Good to know if one toilet is leaking while you wait for a plumber. Under sinks. In the cabinet beneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks are shutoff valves. One controls hot water, one controls cold water. Turn them clockwise to shut off water to that sink. Washing machine. Behind or next to your washing machine are two shutoff valves, one for hot and one for cold. Turn clockwise to shut off. Water heater. There is usually a shutoff valve before the water heater. This is good to know if your water heater is leaking.

Knowing about these individual shutoffs is helpful for small problems. But if you have a major leak or burst pipe, shut off the main water line first to stop all water flow throughout the house.

What to Do Right Now

Do not wait for an emergency. Go find your main water shutoff today.

1. Locate your main shutoff valve. Check the front yard first in a covered box. If not there, check the side and back of your house. 2. Once you find it, verify it actually turns. Try turning it slightly. Make sure it is not stuck or corroded. 3. If it is hard to turn or stuck, call a plumber to have them service it. A stuck valve might be jammed at a critical moment. 4. Tie a bright ribbon or tape to the valve so you can find it in the dark. When a pipe bursts at 2am and your yard is dark, you do not want to be searching around looking for it. 5. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to turn it off.

If the Valve Is Stuck

If you go to shut off your main water and the valve will not turn, do not force it. A stuck valve could be damaged by forcing, and then you would be unable to shut off water at all.

Call a plumber to service the valve. They can usually free it up without damage. If it cannot be freed, they can replace it. It is better to spend a few hundred dollars on a plumber visit than to have a burst pipe pour thousands of gallons of water into your home because you could not shut off the main.

In an Emergency

When a pipe bursts or a fixture is actively flooding:

1. Shut off the main water immediately. Every second counts. 2. Turn off any electrical breakers connected to the flooded area to prevent shock hazards. 3. Call a plumber. Describe the emergency and where the leak is. 4. Start removing water if possible with towels and a shop vac. 5. Call your home insurance company to report the claim.

Practice Now

The best time to find your water shutoff is when you do not need it. Go find it today. Know how to turn it off. Tell your family. Tie a ribbon to it. Do this today, not tomorrow.

When a plumbing emergency hits at Bellflower, Downey, Long Beach, or anywhere else in LA County, you want to be ready. If you need a plumber for the actual repair, we can connect you with one who can help.