How to Turn Off the Water to Your Home

If a water pipe springs a leak, knowing where the water shutoff valves are could save you money in water damage repairs. The master shutoff valve stops the flow of water to the entire house. Individual or supply shutoff valves shut off water to specific appliances and fixtures such as toilets and washing machines.

Your master shutoff valve is typically located on the outside of your home. It may be in the front, on the side or in the backyard. Look for a hose-bib (outside faucet) next to your home with a pipe coming up from the ground. Located on that pipe between the ground and the hose bib is a valve. This is the master shutoff valve. Typically, the house valve will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve) for turning.

Gate valves are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter turn clockwise until the water is off. To verify the water is off, turn on the hose-bib next to the master shutoff valve. As you turn the master shutoff valve off, the water from the hose-bib should stop.

To turn the water back on, either turn the gate valve counterclockwise or turn the ball valve a quarter turn counterclockwise.

Everyone in your home should know how to shut off water to your home if there is an emergency. In the event of an emergency, such as a major earthquake, you may want to turn off the water supply to your home as soon as possible to prevent water damage to your property due to broken pipes within your home.