Find Your Home Water Shutoff Before You Need It
Knowing the correct shutoff can help limit water loss during a leak. Locate it before an emergency, and ask your water utility or a licensed plumber to confirm which valve serves your home and how to operate it.
Identify the valve before turning it
A home shutoff may be near the point where the supply enters the building. Some properties have a separate customer valve near the meter; others do not. A nearby fixture valve may stop only that fixture. Do not assume that every valve in a curb box belongs to you or shuts off the whole house.
If you cannot identify the valve, contact your utility or a licensed plumber. Ask about safe access, any required tool, and the procedure for your particular installation. Do not experiment with unfamiliar utility equipment or force a stuck valve.
Learn how your identified valve operates
Common lever-operated ball valves close with a quarter-turn, with the handle across the pipe. Common wheel-operated gate valves close clockwise. Follow the instructions for the actual valve, use gentle hand pressure, and stop if it binds, leaks, or appears damaged.
Make a household plan
- Record the valve's location and share it with the household.
- Keep access clear and your utility's emergency contact details available.
- Ask a plumber whether testing or maintenance is appropriate for the valve's condition. Follow their procedure; do not force it through an annual exercise.
- Have a missing, seized, leaking, or ineffective home shutoff assessed. The work and time required depend on the installation.
If water is leaking now
Operate only an identified valve you can reach safely from a dry location. Stay away from standing water and wet electrical equipment. If the valve is unsafe to reach or will not stop the flow, keep clear and contact your water utility and an available licensed plumber. Leave the area and contact emergency services if there is immediate danger.
Blount Plumbing is launching soon in Temple. Contact us for launch information; use an available provider for an urgent repair.