You don’t have to be a home improvement expert to know how to turn off your main water valve. It’s important you know where the main valve is because, if disaster strikes, time will be of the essence for you, so as to avoid major damage to your home.
Two reasons you’d want to shut off your water valve:
- Disaster: Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience this one, but a burst or leaking pipe won’t give you a whole lot of time to figure out what to do.
- Precautionary Measures: Maybe you’re heading out of town for a while, so it’d be good for you to shut off the water in your home just in case something goes wrong.
So, where can you find your valve?
If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the valve is probably on a wall near the front of the house.
If your home is built on a slab, the valve is probably near the water heater or in the garage.
If you can’t locate it inside your home, have a look outside. Look near the street and see if you can find a covered box buried in the ground, called the water meter box. This box houses your home’s water shut off valve. The valve closest to your house is the residential water valve for your home.
If you still can’t find the valve, give us a call and we’ll be happy to come and help you locate it. Now, how do you turn it off?
Valves located inside the home can be turned off by hand. Just turn it clockwise to stop the water flow.
Valves located in a water meter box outside the home often require a meter key. You can get one at a local hardware or home improvement store. If you don’t want to make the trip, you can substitute a meter key for a crescent wrench and screwdriver.
Once you turn the valve off, release the pressure in your pipes by turning on both the hot and cold water from a faucet in your home.
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