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Find and test your main water shutoff
In a burst-pipe emergency, the minutes spent hunting for the shutoff are when most damage happens. Find it now.
Where to look
- Where the water line enters the house: basement wall, crawl space, garage, utility closet, or near the water heater.
- Outside: on a hose-bib-height pipe near the foundation (common in mild climates).
- At the meter box near the street. The street-side valve may need a meter key, and some utilities prefer that only they operate it.
Know your valve type
- Ball valve (lever handle): a quarter turn closes it. The lever across the pipe means off.
- Gate valve (round wheel): turn clockwise many turns. Old gate valves can seize or fail to seal fully.
Test it (once a year)
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor.
- Close the main. The flow should stop within a minute.
- Reopen slowly. If the valve won't turn, leaks at the stem, or doesn't stop flow, have a plumber replace it. A ball valve is a common upgrade.
Tag the valve and show everyone in the household where it is.