Importance of Knowing Water Shut-Off Valve: Why You Should Learn

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Just about everyone has got his or her own thinking on the subject of 3 Tips To Prevent Water And Storm Damage.

The plumbing system of your home is an intricate network of pipelines as well as shut-off valves. In the occasion of an emergency, you can cut the water using the shutoffs.

Why Must I Stress over This?

Your bathroom sink is malfunctioning, so you can readily discover the shut-off shutoff below the sink. For significant leaks, you must close the mainline shut-off shutoff.

The longer you wait to close the shut-off valve, the more extensive the damage will be. You might not have adequate time to figure out how to shut the shutoffs when you're panicking amidst an emergency.

What Does the Shut-Off Valve Resemble?

This is generally a knob that permits you to turn off the water for a certain device, a localized location (for instance the entire 2nd flooring), or for the whole residential or commercial property. It is important to understand where these shutoffs are, so when something crops up in any kind of location of your residence, you can close it right now. This will help you avoid significant water damages that will set you back thousands to fix.

Where are These Found?

It may be challenging to situate them, particularly if your home is big. Your best bet is to call a water remediation services company for guidance. But if you have a relatively moderate-sized house, try searching for a knob or lever. This is usually located in the adhering to locations:

On the boundary wall

If you have a basement, search at the eye level

If you are on the ground floor, look for it on a reduced flooring

The primary shut-off shutoff is typically near the outside water meter

Under the sink

Beside the hot water heater

Typically, builders mount the valves near or within the primary, ground-floor bathrooms. The shutoffs are supposed to be visible, some pick to camouflage them for aesthetic factors.

When to Call a Specialist?

Ought to the abovementioned be the case for your local shutoffs, you have no other selection but to turn off the major water line, reducing the source of water in your whole residence. Call the plumber to check the trouble and shut off the shutoff in that area just so you can use the rest of the plumbing in various other locations of your home.

Remember, these shutoffs are lifesavers and essential for any type of plumbing repair service. In the event of a plumbing emergency, shut down these shutoffs to stop issues that call a respectable water damage restoration carrier.


The plumbing system of your house is an intricate network of pipelines as well as shut-off valves. In the event of an emergency, you can reduce the water utilizing the valves. The longer you wait to shut the shut-off valve, the more comprehensive the damage will certainly be. It is vital to know where these valves are, so when something crops up in any location of your residence, you can shut it right away. In the occasion of a plumbing emergency, closed down these shutoffs to stop problems that call a trusted water damage restoration carrier.

How to Find a Water Shut-off Valve Outside

Why Do You Need to Shut-off the Main Water Valve?

The pressure that keeps home faucets and appliances running does not stop when there’s a water line break. This means the water will continue to flow until the valve is shut off. A typical water pipe can carry 10 to15 gallons per minute, which is enough water to run a full cycle of laundry in the washing machine. Now, picture that amount of water soaking into your carpet and walls every minute. Not a pretty sight!

In a panic-stricken state with water flowing around you, it’s unlikely you will want to stop and take the time to figure out where the valve is. Identifying it now will provide you with peace of mind and a swift action plan if the worst happens.

Finding the Water Shut-off Valve

Where is my main water valve? Your home has shut-off valves for individual appliances as well as one inside the perimeter of your home. If you aren’t sure where it’s located inside, or the problem is related to the mainline instead of an appliance, you will save time by going directly to the outside shut-off valve.

If you have municipal water service, here’s how to find your outside water shut-off valve:

Look for a rectangular or round cover that will be near the edge of your property, often between the curb and the sidewalk. Some water main valves are located along an alley, rather than the street. The cover may be metal or plastic, and it might say “water meter” to help with identification.

Open the cover to the meter to find the water shut-off valve.

If you have a private well, there may be a shut-off valve on or near your pressure tank.

In either case, you can also typically find a shut-off valve in a utility space of the house where the water line enters the home. Some homes with municipal water service may have a shut-off valve on an exterior wall near the water meter.

If you’re struggling with finding the water shut-off valve, you can check your home's property inspection report that you received when you purchased your home. Check the plumbing section of the report, which will identify the location of the valve along with a photo to guide you in the search.

How to Shut Off the Water Valve

To shut off an outside main water valve, you may need a couple of tools:

If a security bolt is holding the cover down, you will need a socket wrench to remove the security bolt. Or, you may need to contact the municipal water supply provider to unlock the cover.

You may need to pry the cover off with a screwdriver.

For many water main valves, a water meter key is the ideal tool for adjusting the valve.

If you don’t have a water meter key, channel locks will work.

Once you have removed the cover, look inside the compartment to find the residential water supply shut-off valve, which will be the one located closest to your house. To turn off the valve, you can use a meter key or twist the valve closed with pliers. To stop the water flow to your home, turn the shut-off valve clockwise.

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