How to Locate & Shut Off Your Water Main

1.  FIND THE MAIN WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE

The city has a main water supply that feeds different parts of the city and off of that is a line that feeds to your house. Before it gets to your house there’s a meter with a shut-off valve. Technically, you can shut the water off to your property at the meter, but most cities prefer that you don’t mess with this valve. So that is used as a last resort option to shut the water off.

From the meter, the water supply line continues into your house. After it goes into the foundation, there should be another valve that’s pretty close. It’s usually right before the pressure regulator or PRV.

If you’re not sure where your main shut-off is inside the house, a rule of thumb is if you can find the main water meter outside, it’s usually a straight shot into the house from there. Along that wall when you look inside, you should find the main shut-off valve.

If yours seems to be going into a finished room, look for a panel on a wall or the ceiling. See if you can remove it and find the shut-off valve and PRV (pressure regulator valve).

2.  CLOSE THE MAIN WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE

There are 2 types of styles of water shut-off valves: handle style and knob style and they are each turned off differently.

Handle Style: Turn it perpendicular - when the valve is going along with the pipe, it’s ON and when the valve is going across the pipe, it’s OFF.

Knob Style: Righty tighty - turn it clockwise until you can‘t turn it anymore to close it.

PRO TIP: if you have a knob style, the next time you have a plumber at your house, ask them to replace it with a handle style one which is a lot easier to operate.

3.  LOCATE IT AND GIVE IT A TRY

It’s a good idea to locate the main water shut-off valve in your house and try closing it before you find yourself in an emergency situation where you have to close it. Sometimes older valves can be seized up and difficult to turn. You may need pliers to help you turn it to open it.

PRO TIP: if you have a knob style, the next time you have a plumber at your house, ask them to replace it with a handle style one which is a lot easier to operate.