Finding & Operating Your Main Water Shut-Off

Do you know where your main water shut-off valve is located in your home? Do you know how to turn it on and off? Knowing these things is an integral component of being a homeowner and they can save you major trouble in case of an emergency. After all, there’s no time to lose when a pipe bursts or springs a leak.

If you have a basement…

The shut-off valve should be located near the foundation wall in the front portion of your home. It may help to locate the main water pipe which usually comes through a concrete wall or floor, because the valve should be located within 3-5 feet of where it enters.

If you have a crawl space and a basement…

You may find the valve where the water enters the basement or it might be inside the crawl space itself. You may want to consider having an additional valve added in the basement to make it more convenient to access.

If you have a crawl space, but no basement…

The shut-off valve should be located near your water heater or under the kitchen sink. It could also be inside the crawl space so if you can’t find it in either of the first two locations, check here next.

If your house is on a concrete slab…

You’ll likely find the valve near the water heater or in a closet or storage area near the front of the house. If you can’t find it there, check underneath the kitchen sink.

Now that you’ve located the main water shut-off valve, operation is rather simple. There are two main types of valves - it could be circular or a lever. For circular valves, turn it clockwise to shut off the water and if you have a lever, turn it so it’s perpendicular to the pipe.

For quality plumbing solutions and on-time service across Twin Cities - St. Paul, rely on the professionals at Hero Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Our company has been trusted in tens of thousands of home in our 100+ years of service.