Where is the Water Shut-Off Valve?

Pipes are not immune from issues, and serious problems such as a major leak or even a burst pipe can lead to an emergency situation in your home. When this happens, it’s not only important to call a Bartlett plumber for emergency services, but also to shut off the water in your home immediately to prevent any additional flooding and property damage. This can be done by turning a valve located on your main water line in a clockwise direction. If you don’t know where this fixture is, let’s take a look at a few possibilities.

Inside Locations

If your main valve is located inside your home, it can most likely be found in one of three places: your basement or crawlspace, your garage, or near your water heater. This is a small knob that is most likely labeled as your emergency shut off valve and probably red in color. If you have a basement or crawlspace, this is most likely located near the front of your home, closest to the main road. If you don’t have a basement and your home is built on a slab, then your valve is probably in your garage or near your water heater.

Outside Locations

If your water main is not found inside your home, then it may be buried underground just outside of it. Look in front of your home near the street for a metal or plastic cover that may be labeled “water meter.” If you lift this cover off, you will find your shut-off valve.

Opening this cover is usually simple and just requires lifting it off, but in some cases you may need a special tool. The most common tool is a pentagon socket wrench, which is different from a regular hexagon pattern. If you do not have one of these tools, then a pair of pliers may allow you to loosen the bolt and open the cover. If you don’t have a bolt but instead have something that looks like a keyhole, then you need a meter key to open the cover. Finally, if you don’t have a security bolt or lock but the cover does not lift straight off, try twisting the cover to see if it comes loose.

Other Water Valves

Some of your major appliances also have their own shut off valves to allow you to shut off the affected portion of your plumbing but keep your water flowing through the rest of your home. These shut off valves look slightly different but are generally much easier to find.

Washing Machine: The shutoff valve is usually located right where the washing machine’s hose meets the wall fixture.

Toilet: This is found where the hose meets the wall, usually directly behind the toilet itself.

Sink: The location of the shutoff valve is always under your sink, but may be different depending on your plumbing layout and sink style. It should still nonetheless be installed in a fairly conspicuous place: just look for the small valve that can be turned clockwise.

If you need help finding your water shutoff valve or have a plumbing emergency, call Smith’s Plumbing Services today! With more than 10 years of experience, our highly-trained and fully-licensed technicians can provide you with high-quality services and expert workmanship at affordable prices. We also understand that emergencies such as burst pipes, major leaks, or clogged drains can happen outside normal business hours, and we offer 24/7 availability for emergency services to help you set your home right again. Our reputation and dedication to high-quality service has earned us a coveted A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau.