How to Find Main Water Shut Off Valve

There are plenty of situations that may require someone to shut off a home’s water main. It could be a burst pipe that is flooding your home’s insides or a persistent leak that can’t be fixed quickly. It is always recommended that you call in an experienced plumber to fix any problems, but if the valve needs to be shut off immediately, then you will need to locate the main shut off valve. We will provide you with some information that will help you find and shut off the valve, to limit water causing damage to your house.

There are three different possible locations where your water main could be. We will explain the details regarding each location and why it is chosen, so you can correctly locate the water main on your first try.

Location 1 – Inside the House

In colder climates, the valve is placed in a location where it won’t be exposed to the extreme temperatures, commonly inside of the home. Search your basement or the laundry room, the valve usually will not be covered, so it will be easier to find. Main water valves may have round handles or lever handles. Once you locate the valve turn it all the way to the right (clockwise) to shut off the water supply.

Location 2 – Attached to Exterior Wall

If you live in a warm climate, then the water main will be located next to one of your exterior walls. Go around you home’s exterior and locate your water meter, the main shut off valve will usually be before or after the water meter. Repeat the same procedure as described above to turn off the water.

Location 3 – Front Yard

If you have a city or town water supply the water company usually places water mains in your front yard, right where it touches the main street. There is usually a small metal/plastic plate marking the exact spot of the valve. You can search your front yard and see if you can find the plate. Once you have located the plate, you will have to exert some effort in lifting the lid to gain access, locate the valve, and turn it to the right (clockwise) to shut it off. Your water meter is usually in this box as well.

These are three locations where the main water valve is located; you can easily find the valve by searching for it in these locations. When you have shut off the water main, call in an experienced plumber to fix whatever plumbing emergency you are facing. They will come in and fix the faulty pipes and restore your water supply. Another benefit of this whole procedure is that you will always know where your water main is located, so you can turn it off yourself, whenever you need to.