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In some cases, it’s more effective to turn off the water to a single faucet or plumbing fixture instead of shutting down the water to the entire home. Not only does this take less time because you don’t need to drain the water from the whole house, but it also allows you to continue using the plumbing in the rest of the home. The main water shut-off valve, also known as the building control valve, is typically located in one of several common areas. However, emergencies aren’t the only time a homeowner might need to turn off the water. When an old valve needs to be replaced, a faucet leaks, or a toilet needs to be removed, the water must be turned off to avoid flooding the immediate vicinity. Use this guide to learn where to find the main shut-off valve and how to turn off the water in your house.
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For this reason, it’s recommended to locate and test your main shut-off valve now, instead of scrambling to try to find it when water is pouring into your home from a broken water line. The valve should work properly without you needing to rely on any emergency plumbing tools. If you find that it is seized or that the valve doesn’t completely shut off the water to the home, then you should contact a plumber to replace the valve. But if you don't find the shutoff valve near the affected fixture or appliance, don't worry. You can shut off the water by turning off the main water supply valve near the water meter. Ideally, both the cold and hot water will stop flowing, although sometimes tank-style water heaters may continue to empty indefinitely.
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In some cases, the valve may not function properly, so it’s essential to test the water before proceeding. Go to a sink in the lowest level of the home and fully open the cold water, allowing it to drain into the sink. If the water is off, the flow will slow down before coming to a complete stop. Turning off the water to the home when the shut-off valve is located inside the house is usually straightforward. The valve is often in the basement, close to where the main water line enters the home, although it may also be in a crawlspace or utility room. In the basement, the valve is typically positioned around eye level; in a main-floor utility area, it is installed closer to the floor.
Step 4: After repairs are complete, turn the water back on.
For instance, if you are replacing the faucet at the kitchen sink, then you can simply turn off the isolation valve located under the sink, instead of draining the water for the whole home. Water meter boxes sometimes have two shutoff valves, one on the customer side and one on the city side of the meter. This should be a last resort because in many communities there are ordinances that frown upon homeowners touching any part of the plumbing system positioned on the street side of the water meter. When a hot water pipe is leaking, or if you need to repair or replace a water heater, there are shutoff valves located near your water heater. Depending on your water heater's setup, you will need to locate the correct valve to turn off. If you notice a blue or yellow shutoff valve feeding the water heater, that is likely the one to shut off but leave the red valve for the hot water alone.
This knowledge will make regular maintenance easier, and it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs in a worst-case scenario. If you can’t spot the valve after circling the home a couple of times, it may be in a utility box in the yard. If you cannot locate the valve in the yard, there is a chance that the house doesn’t have a main shut-off valve, so you need to use the emergency curb stop valve to turn off the water to the house. Otherwise, you need to contact the utility directly to have them operate the valve.
Q. How do I turn water off completely in my house?
Closing and reopening them periodically will prevent them from getting stuck in place, and give you an opportunity to inspect them for corrosion or broken connections. Learning how to turn off the water to your house is important for emergencies and plumbing repairs. You would need to shut off the water to prevent floods indoors if the pipes break or plumbing fixtures overflow, for example. Shutting off the water supply in your home is usually necessary when you are making plumbing repairs to any of the fixtures or pipes in your home's plumbing system. After you locate the main shut-off valve or the curb stop valve, inspect the condition of the plumbing before proceeding.
However, it is best to immediately call your HVAC servicing company or your plumber so they can help talk you through which valve to shut off.
In some cases, even if you use a wrench or pliers you will not be able to get the valve moving again. Chances are there will come a time when you’ll have to turn off the water supply to your home. You may need to do so for a scheduled plumbing repair, or before leaving on a long trip. Then there are the emergency situations, such as when a pipe bursts somewhere behind the drywall or your bathroom is flooded with water, when you’ll need to cut the water off, and fast. Even if repairs or emergencies haven’t come up yet, it’s still important to know where your home’s main water valves are and how they function.
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Turning off the water to the entire home will also stop the flow of water into the water heater. However, if you have a tank-style water heater, then the water inside the tank may still flow out of the water heater. Open a faucet on the lowest level of the home to drain any water remaining in the line. If the hot water continues to flow, locate the isolation valve above the water heater and turn it off to stop the flow of hot water. If the main shut-off valve is stuck or seized, you can attempt to loosen it with a set of channel locks or a pipe wrench. Just keep in mind that if you apply too much pressure to the valve, you can break the handle or the stem.
Once you have finished making repairs or your plumbing emergency is no longer a problem, turn the water back on by rotating the valve counterclockwise. The faucet that you previously opened will spit out some air as the water fills the pipes throughout the home. Allow a few minutes for the water to force out any air left in the lines, then turn the faucet off again.
It’s not every day a homeowner needs to turn off the water to the house using the main water control valve. Some homeowners might not know its location, which can be a big problem if there is a leak, the water lines freeze, or a pipe bursts. Homeowners need to know how to locate and operate the main shut-off valve so they can quickly turn off the water in an emergency. If a plumbing fitting starts to leak or a pipe ruptures, it can result in extensive water damage, costly water damage restoration repairs, and ongoing issues with mold and mildew growth.
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