Your main water shut-off valve is usually where the water line enters your home through exterior wall often in the basement, crawl space, garage (near the water heater/laundry), or in a utility closet.
If you know where the water meter is, the shut off is installed near where the water supply enters the home, check downstream from the device for the main water shutoff valve. The water meter is round and has a glass or clear plastic face to read usage on the dial.
The main water line may be behind drywall, paneling, the ceiling, or flooring. Follow visible water lines near the water heater. Locate the incoming cold water supply line attached to the water heater and follow the pipe back to the main water line, where you can find the main water shutoff valve.
Plumbing infrastructures use various valves to control the flow of water. However, only gate and ball valves are used for main water shutoffs in residential locations.
- Ball valve: Most homes use ball values because they are easier to use and more reliable than gate valves. A ball valve has a lever-style handle. When the lever is moved 90 degrees, it moves the ball inside the valve to open or close. The valve is closed when the lever is perpendicular to the water line and is open when the lever is parallel to the water line.
Gate valve: This is an older, less durable type of valve than a ball valve. It has a circular handle mounted on a stem and connected to the valve’s body. To stop the water flow, turn the valve clockwise to close the gate and turn it counterclockwise to open the gate and restore the water flow.
Be sure to attach your Water Shut Off tag, provided by ServiceMaster, to the main water shut off valve. This serves as a reminder of where it is located, so that you are able to quickly identify the correct valve and turn off water in a crisis. We recommend that everyone, including older children, know where this is located.
Please see the attached video for additional assistance.
