Swimming is great, but you probably don’t want to do it in your living room. Water pipes can burst at any time—and it’s usually at the worst possible moment (imagine greeting your in-laws at the front door with an umbrella and galoshes). Finding the main water shut-off to your home depends on the type of foundation you have, so it’s important to know where to look based on this characteristic.
If Your Home Is Built on a Slab
If your house is on a slab, your main water shut-off valve should be near your water heater tank, either under it or at the top.
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If Your Home Has a Basement
If you have a basement, that’s probably where you’ll find your shut-off valve. Most water basement-dwelling valves will be in the same place as your outdoor hose bib, just on the other side of the wall.
The easiest way to find the valve is to picture where the hose attachment is on the outside of the house. Then find the corresponding spot on the wall inside the house. Easy-peasy lemon-squeezy.
If Your Home Has a Crawl Space
Your main water shut-off valve might be under the crawl space. You can usually find it along the front wall of the house.
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With basement: The shut-off valve is wherever water enters your basement.
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Without basement: The shut-off valve is near the water heater or under the kitchen sink.
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How to Turn Off Your Type of Water Valve
Depending on the type of water valve you have, you’ll turn it off a little bit differently.
Ball Valve
A ball valve contains a ball with a hole through the middle of it. When you turn the long lever handle to turn the valve on, the hole in the ball aligns with the water pipe and allows water to flow. When the valve is closed, the ball turns and blocks the pipe.
Turn the handle 90 degrees to the right to shut off the valve, or turn it 90 degrees to the left to open it.
Gate Valve
Gate valves have round handles that control a gate that moves up and down inside the valve to allow or block the flow of water. You can adjust the flow of water or completely turn it off. Turn the handle counterclockwise as far as possible to open it, and turn it clockwise to close it. Never force it, as you could damage the handle and valve.
Streetside Ground-Level Utility Box
If you still aren’t able to find and turn off your water shut-off valve, you may be able to locate and turn off the valve in the streetside ground-level utility box. The valve in this box, also known as a curb valve, is at the beginning of your water main. You should see a plastic or metal door at the top of the box.
There’s usually a phone number on the door for emergency services at your water company. You can call and ask how to shut off the valve, or they can send an emergency team to assist you.
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Tips for Locating Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
If you still aren’t sure where to find your main water shut-off valve, one thing you can do is start going along the perimeter of your home interior, and look for where the plumbing comes into the home. If you find your water meter, the plumbing will most likely run from there to the closest part of your home’s perimeter. If you don’t find it, the valve may be outside under a metal cover or under the house, such as in a basement or crawl space. You can also go through your file cabinet to find the property inspection report if you own the home or call your landlord if you’re renting.
Alternatives to Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
If you can’t locate the main water shut-off valve, don’t panic. You can hire a plumber to take a look or an emergency service if you have an urgent leak. There are some alternatives to consider as well, like valves that shut off water to specific fixtures.
Turn Off Isolation Valves
If a specific fixture or appliance is leaking, like the toilet, bathtub, sink, or washer, you can look nearby along the wall or under the fixture for isolation or service valves to shut off water just to one specific plumbing fixture.
To turn off water to a toilet, you can usually find the water supply valve on the wall or floor adjacent to the toilet. You can turn the shut-off values for a bathtub if you can get to the plumbing via an access panel. Under a sink, you’ll find shut-off valves for the hot and cold water. For a washer, look for shut-off valves behind or above the unit.
Consider the City Shut-Off Valve
In the ground on your property or near the sidewalk, there is a city shut-off valve for the water to your property. While it’s illegal to shut this off yourself without calling the emergency service line, you can make that call, and they will direct you to shut off the water via this valve or send an emergency team to do it for you.
The Takeaway
As a homeowner, learning how to find and turn off your main water valve might feel pretty low on your list of priorities. But in an emergency, knowing how to cut the water supply quickly can help keep your family safe and shield you from costly water damage and repairs.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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