Finding Your Main Water Shut-Off
If a pipe bursts, closing the main valve is the single most important thing you can do. Find it now, while everything is dry.
Request a plumberWhere it usually is
In homes with a basement, the main is usually on the wall where the water line enters, often near the meter on the street side. In homes without one, check the utility room, crawl space or near the hot water tank.
How to close it
A lever is closed when it sits across the pipe. A round handle closes clockwise.
Test it
Close the valve, then open a tap. If water keeps flowing after a minute, the valve isn't sealing. Old valves can stick; don't force them with a wrench.
Fixture shut-offs
Each sink, toilet and the washing machine should have its own valve. These let you stop one leak without shutting off the whole house.
Label it
Tag the main valve and show everyone in the home where it is. Keep a flashlight nearby.
If the valve fails
If it won't close or starts leaking, contact the city about the curb stop and see emergency plumbing.
Replace a stuck valve
Old gate valves with round handles are prone to seizing or breaking. If yours is stiff or drips when turned, ask a plumber to replace it with a quarter-turn ball valve, which is easier to close quickly and less likely to fail when you need it most.
Rentals and suites
If you rent out a basement suite, show your tenant where the main is and how it closes. A tenant who can stop the water quickly in a burst saves both of you a lot of damage.
More plumbing guides
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