When should you shut off the water?
Use the main shutoff when a leak is large, you cannot isolate the fixture causing the problem, a pipe has burst, or you are leaving a plumbing system open for repair. For a leaking toilet, sink, or appliance, a local fixture shutoff is usually faster and avoids turning off water to the whole home.
How to find the main shutoff
- Look for where the water service line enters the building.
- Check basements, crawlspaces, mechanical rooms, utility closets, garages and foundation walls facing the street.
- In warm climates, check exterior walls or the meter box near the property line.
- Identify the valve now and label it so everyone in the household can find it quickly.
How to turn it off
A lever-style ball valve is normally off when the handle is turned 90 degrees so it sits perpendicular to the pipe. A round gate-style valve generally closes by turning clockwise until it stops gently.
What should it cost?
Finding and labeling your existing shutoff costs nothing. Replacing an old main shutoff can vary widely based on access, pipe material, local labor rates and whether the water utility must shut service at the street.
When to call a professional
Call a licensed plumber if the valve is inaccessible, frozen, corroded, leaking, connected to damaged piping, or if shutting it does not stop water flow. Utility-side valves and meter equipment may be restricted to the water provider in some areas.