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Where Is My Main Water Shut-Off Valve?
When a pipe bursts, every minute counts. Knowing where your main valve is and how to turn it off can save your floors, walls and belongings. Here is where to look and what to do.
The short answer
The main shut-off valve is almost always where the water line comes into your house. Most often that is on the basement or crawl space wall that faces the street, close to the water meter. In homes built on a slab, check the garage, a utility closet, near the water heater or outside near the foundation. To shut it off, turn a wheel handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Water pouring out right now? Shut off the main valve first, then turn off power to any wet area if you can reach the breaker safely. Then call our emergency plumbing service. We answer 24/7.
Where to look, by type of home
Home with a basement
- Front wall of the basement, facing the street
- Next to the water meter
- Near the floor, often behind shelves or boxes
Home with a crawl space
- Just inside the crawl space door
- Under the kitchen or a bathroom
- Near the water heater or laundry
Home on a slab
- Garage wall, often near the water heater
- Utility or laundry closet
- Outside, near the foundation on the street side
Home on a private well
- On the pipe after the pressure tank
- Also switch off the well pump breaker
- Look in the basement or pump house
Still cannot find it? Look at your home inspection report from when you bought the house. Inspectors usually note where the main valve is. You can also follow the water line back from the water meter or from where a pipe comes up through the basement floor.
The two kinds of valves and how to turn them off
Wheel handle (gate or globe valve)
Turn it clockwise, to the right, until it stops. It can take several full turns. Common in older homes.
Lever handle (ball valve)
Turn it a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe. Lever in line with the pipe means on, across the pipe means off.
How to shut off your water, step by step
- Turn the valve off slowly and firmly. Clockwise for a wheel, a quarter turn for a lever.
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the water left in the pipes and take pressure off.
- Turn off the water heater if the water will be off for more than a short time: switch off the breaker for an electric heater, or set a gas heater to pilot.
- Call a plumber if a pipe has burst or you cannot find the leak.
What if the valve is stuck or will not close?
Valves that are never used can seize. Do not force a stuck valve with a long wrench or a hammer. Old valves can snap or start leaking at the stem, which makes things worse. Try gentle, steady pressure with a cloth for grip. If it still will not move, the next option is the curb stop in the meter box near the street. In many towns that valve belongs to the water company and needs a special key, so call them.
A stuck or leaking main valve should be replaced. Most plumbers put in a quarter-turn ball valve, which is easier to close in a hurry. Our water line repair service replaces old main valves and leaking service lines.
Turning the water back on
Open the valve slowly, a little at a time. Opening it fast can slam the pipes and loosen fittings. Then open a few faucets to let air out of the lines. The water may sputter or look cloudy for a minute. That is air and is normal. Turn the water heater back on once the tank is full and water runs from the hot side of a faucet.
When you will need it
- A pipe bursts or a fitting starts spraying. Our burst pipe repair service fixes the break.
- The water heater starts leaking. See our guide to a water heater leaking from the bottom.
- A toilet or washing machine supply hose breaks.
- You leave the house empty for a long time in winter. See our fall plumbing checklist.
Make it easy for everyone in the house
Once you find the valve, make it easy to reach. Clear the boxes in front of it, hang a tag on it that says "Main water shut-off" and show everyone in the house how to turn it. Take a photo of it on your phone. Test it once a year by turning it off and back on, so you know it will work when you need it.
Main Water Shut-Off Valve: FAQs
Which way do I turn the main water valve to shut it off?
Turn a round wheel handle clockwise (to the right) until it stops. Turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. When the lever runs the same direction as the pipe, the water is on.
How long does it take for water to stop after I close the valve?
The flow stops right away, but water left in the pipes keeps coming out for a minute or two. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain it faster and take pressure off the pipes.
Can I turn off the water at the meter by the street?
The valve in the meter box near the street is called the curb stop. In many towns it belongs to the water company and needs a special key. Some water companies only allow their own staff to use it, so call them first unless it is an emergency.
Is it safe to turn off the water if I have a water heater?
Yes, for a short time. If the water will be off for a while, turn off the power or set the gas to pilot on the water heater, so it does not heat a tank that cannot refill.
Do apartments and condos have a main water shut-off valve?
Usually the building has one main valve, and each unit may have its own shut-off in a utility closet, under the kitchen sink or behind an access panel near the bathroom. If you cannot find one in your unit, ask the building manager now, before there is a leak.
How often should I test my main shut-off valve?
Once a year is a good habit. Turn it off, check that the water stops, then turn it back on slowly. A valve that is never used can seize up and fail when you need it most.
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