When a pipe bursts, you've got to act fast and know where the water shut-off valve is
Your main water shut-off valve location depends on your foundation type, with basement valves near the hose bib and slab foundations placing valves near the water heater.
Walk along your home's inside perimeter to find where plumbing enters, or check near the water meter at the front of your property for the main line.
Look for isolation valves near specific fixtures like toilets or sinks to shut off water to one area when you can't locate the main valve quickly.
Hiring a local plumbing repair professional provides reliable help when you can't find your shut-off valve or need emergency assistance with leaks and water damage prevention.
Swimming is great, but you probably don’t want to do it in your living room. Knowing where to find the shut-off valve in your house can save you from a potential flood fiasco if a water pipe bursts. In most homes, the main water shut-off valve can be found near the water meter, often located in the basement or near the water heater. However, the exact location of the valve depends on your foundation type.
The main water shut-off valve looks like a lever or wheel-like handle attached to a pipe near where the water supply enters your home. It’s usually larger and more robust than other valves in your plumbing system.
The exact location of the main water shut-off valve depends on the house’s foundation type because of plumbing layout differences. Here’s where you can find the valve based on your home’s foundation type.
| Foundation Type | Shut-Off Valve Location |
|---|---|
| Slab | Either under or at the top of the water heater |
| Basement | On the inside of the wall where the water supply line enters the house |
| Crawl Space | Along the front wall of the house |
| Pier and Beam | Either in a utility area under the house or in a basement area accessible from inside the house |
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. You might find the water heater in a utility closet and the valve may be behind an access panel.
If you have a basement, that’s probably where you’ll find your shut-off valve. Most water valves in the basement will be in the same place as your outdoor hose bib, just on the inside 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.
Homes with crawl spaces have a raised foundation with a space beneath the main floor, where the main water shut-off valve might be located. You can usually find the valve along the front wall of the house.
With basement: The shut-off valve is wherever water enters your basement.
Without basement: The shut-off valve is near the water heater or under the kitchen sink.
Pier and beam foundations combine elements of slab and crawl space construction. In these homes, the main water shut-off valve is near the water entry point, which may be in a utility area under the house or in a basement if the house has one. It’s usually conveniently accessible from inside the house.
Depending on the type of water valve you have, you’ll turn it off a little bit differently.
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 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 since you could damage the handle and valve.
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.
If you still aren’t sure where to find your main water shut-off valve, here are some tips for scoping it out:
Walk along the inside perimeter of your home and look for where plumbing comes into the house.
Check near the water meter, which is usually installed near the front of your property, then look for a valve on the main water line leading into the house.
Look in utility areas, particularly for homes with crawl spaces, basements, or utility closets.
Consider exterior locations—especially for older homes, the shut-off valve may be located in a valve box or access point near the exterior water supply line.
Go through your file cabinet to find the property inspection report if you own the home or call your landlord if you’re renting.
If you can’t locate the main water shut-off valve, don’t panic. You can hire a plumber near you 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.
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.
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.
Terri Beth Miller contributed to a previous version of this article.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The WaterworksIf you want to pay the most exorbitant prices possible for your job, this is the company for you. “By the job” pricing is a rip-off, at least how these people use it. Every job is plugged into a category and prices are set by category. You might have a job that takes half an hour or one that...
Benjamin Franklin PlumbingCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLCMatt is a consummate professional. The work turned out to be far more difficult than expected and rather than turn the job down, Matt rose to the occasion and completed a near impossible task. I can not recommend Greene's Plumbing Service more highly. On a scale of 1-5 I would give Matt a...
Greene's Plumbing ServiceInvolved an extensive bathroom remodel, including removing tub & installing walk in shower, new drywall, custome tile work to ceiling, plumbing, etc. Overall, job was done on time and on budget. Nick & his team were very professional and had high attention to detail. Quality was great. Highly...
Stamos Flooring and Remodeling LLCAwesome company. Had a jacuzzi tub taken out and replaced with huge walk in shower with partial glass enclosure. Onyx to the ceiling with a decorative border, moved plumbing and installed hand held shower, new ceiling, flooring, and paint. Replaced window with glass block. Everything was done...
Columbus Bath DesignThe initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
Initially, I called the Service People to have a leaking garbage disposal replaced. I had purchased a special deal through Angie's List: $79 for $200-worth of plumbing services. <br /> When I went to schedule the work, the earliest date I could get through Angie's List was after the upcoming...
This company did a very good job on the brick wall and it looks just amazing. The staff was always professional and was practically OCD on how the bricks were stacked and how they were laid. Although it took longer than expected, I am willing to sacrifice time over perfection anyday. The...
My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling<p>I am so glad we called Rotor-Rooter. I was hesitant to call them because we usually prefer to give business to local providers. But when we had sewage back up in our basement on a Saturday evening, I had a hard time getting a hold of someone, not to mention the high weekend/evening rate...
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water CleanupFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A main water shut-off valve controls water flow for your entire home. Here we break down the cost to replace a main water shut-off valve.
Know how to locate your main home water shut-off valve and understand how it works before your home floods. Here’s where to look and how to use it.
Learning how to turn off a water main shut-off valve is easy as long as you know where it is during a plumbing emergency.
The last thing you want when you return from a trip is a flooded home. Here are four primary reasons to shut your water off when you’re on vacation.
Whether you need to make a repair or are prepping to winterize your sprinklers, learn how to find your irrigation shut-off valve location with this guide.
Learning how to find a water leak in your home can be tricky, but these tips can speed up the process and potentially save you from severe water damage.
