Learning Valve Location: The Importance of Knowing It Completely

Request Free Estimate

How do you feel about 3 Simple Approaches Against the Shower and Shower-based Water Damage?

The plumbing system of your house is a complex network of pipes as well as shut-off valves. The last is used to control the water's flow into the pipelines throughout the whole house. In case of an emergency, you can cut the water utilizing the valves. This stops extensive water damages from happening.

Why Must I Fret about This?

Your bathroom sink is defective, so you can easily discover the shut-off shutoff beneath the sink. For major leaks, you should close the mainline shut-off valve.

Comprehending just how to do this is essential in an emergency. The longer you wait to close the shut-off valve, the much more substantial the damages will certainly be. You may not have enough time to figure out how to shut the shutoffs when you're worrying among an emergency. Discovering it now is the best point so you can remain tranquil under pressure.

What Does the Shut-Off Shutoff Appear Like?

This is normally a handle that permits you to switch off the water for a details home appliance, a local location (for instance the whole 2nd flooring), or for the entire home. It is important to know where these valves are, so when something surface in any type of location of your home, you can shut it right away. This will help you prevent considerable water damages that will certainly cost thousands to fix.

Where are These Found?

It might be challenging to find them, especially if your residential property is big. Your best bet is to call a water restoration solutions business for guidance. Yet if you have a rather moderate-sized house, try looking for a handle or lever. This is typically located in the adhering to locations:

On the border wall

If you have a basement, search at the eye degree

Try to find it on a lower flooring if you get on the ground floor

The main shut-off shutoff is typically near the exterior water meter

Under the sink

Beside the water heater

Usually, builders mount the valves near or within the main, ground-floor shower rooms. The shutoffs are intended to be visible, some choose to camouflage them for aesthetic factors.

When to Call a Specialist?

Must the abovementioned hold true for your localized valves, you have no other option yet to shut down the main water line, cutting the resource of water in your entire residence. Then call the plumber to check the issue and also shut down the valve in that area just so you can utilize the rest of the plumbing in other areas of your home.

Remember, these shutoffs are lifesavers and also necessary for any type of plumbing repair work. In the event of a plumbing emergency, closed down these shutoffs to protect against complications that call a respectable water damages repair provider.


The plumbing system of your residence is an elaborate network of pipelines and shut-off shutoffs. In the event of an emergency, you can cut the water making use of the shutoffs. The longer you wait to close the shut-off valve, the a lot more extensive the damage will be. It is crucial to understand where these shutoffs are, so when something crops up in any location of your home, you can shut it right away. In the event of a plumbing emergency, closed down these valves to stop difficulties that call a credible water damage repair company.

How to Find a Water Shut-off Valve Outside

Why Do You Need to Shut-off the Main Water Valve?

The pressure that keeps home faucets and appliances running does not stop when there’s a water line break. This means the water will continue to flow until the valve is shut off. A typical water pipe can carry 10 to15 gallons per minute, which is enough water to run a full cycle of laundry in the washing machine. Now, picture that amount of water soaking into your carpet and walls every minute. Not a pretty sight!

In a panic-stricken state with water flowing around you, it’s unlikely you will want to stop and take the time to figure out where the valve is. Identifying it now will provide you with peace of mind and a swift action plan if the worst happens.

Finding the Water Shut-off Valve

Where is my main water valve? Your home has shut-off valves for individual appliances as well as one inside the perimeter of your home. If you aren’t sure where it’s located inside, or the problem is related to the mainline instead of an appliance, you will save time by going directly to the outside shut-off valve.

If you have municipal water service, here’s how to find your outside water shut-off valve:

Look for a rectangular or round cover that will be near the edge of your property, often between the curb and the sidewalk. Some water main valves are located along an alley, rather than the street. The cover may be metal or plastic, and it might say “water meter” to help with identification.

Open the cover to the meter to find the water shut-off valve.

If you have a private well, there may be a shut-off valve on or near your pressure tank.

In either case, you can also typically find a shut-off valve in a utility space of the house where the water line enters the home. Some homes with municipal water service may have a shut-off valve on an exterior wall near the water meter.

If you’re struggling with finding the water shut-off valve, you can check your home's property inspection report that you received when you purchased your home. Check the plumbing section of the report, which will identify the location of the valve along with a photo to guide you in the search.

How to Shut Off the Water Valve

To shut off an outside main water valve, you may need a couple of tools:

If a security bolt is holding the cover down, you will need a socket wrench to remove the security bolt. Or, you may need to contact the municipal water supply provider to unlock the cover.

You may need to pry the cover off with a screwdriver.

For many water main valves, a water meter key is the ideal tool for adjusting the valve.

If you don’t have a water meter key, channel locks will work.

Once you have removed the cover, look inside the compartment to find the residential water supply shut-off valve, which will be the one located closest to your house. To turn off the valve, you can use a meter key or twist the valve closed with pliers. To stop the water flow to your home, turn the shut-off valve clockwise.

https://www.mrrooter.com/about/blog/2020/august/how-to-find-a-water-shut-off-valve-outside/

Hopefully you enjoyed reading our post about 3 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Storms. Many thanks for taking the time to read through our piece. Liked our blog entry? Please share it. Help others discover it. We cherish reading our article about 3 Effective Methods to Protect Your Home for Potential Water Damage .

Expert care? Call.