How to Find the Main Water Shutoff Valve in Your Home for Repairs and More

A main water shutoff valve usually uses a lever operating a ball valve to easily shut down the incoming water for the entire house. In the case of a leak, it's essential to know where the main water shutoff valve is located, what it looks like, and how to operate it. Otherwise, you may not have a way to control the leak while waiting for a plumber or picking up repair parts. Learn how to find the main water shutoff valve in your home in case of repairs, maintenance, or emergencies.

Common Main Shutoff Valve Locations

Most main water shutoff valves are located inside the home. The most common locations are the basement, the crawlspace, the mechanical room, an exterior wall, or the yard. Water supply lines usually run into the house from the street side of the property.

• Basement or crawlspace: If you have a basement, the main water shutoff valve is usually a few feet from where the main water line enters the house. If you don't have a basement but have an under-home crawlspace, the main water line may run through the crawlspace before reaching the home's interior.
• Near the water heater or laundry room: Homes with slab-on-grade construction do not have basements or crawlspaces. The main water shutoff valve is usually in the mechanical room, closet near the water heater, or laundry room. It may also be under the kitchen sink or in a similar location.
  
• Exterior wall: If your home is in a warmer part of the country, the main water line is likely not buried below the frost line. Check outside on an exterior wall, perhaps near the outdoor faucet.
• The yard: The valve may be installed underground in the yard. Look for an access panel buried in the ground near the street. The access panel may only have a curb stop valve. These valves should only be operated by trained individuals with permission from the local water utility company.
• Near a well or pressure tank: If you live in a home that uses well water, look for the main water shutoff valve near the pressure tank or outside near the well.
  

Main Shutoff Valve Types

Valve Type	Appearance	How to Shut Off Valve
Gate	Wheel	Turn clockwise
Ball	Lever	Turn perpendicular to the water line

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.

• 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.
• 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.

How to Find the Main Water Shutoff Valve

The exact location of the main water shutoff valve can differ between properties, so there is no universal spot where the valve is guaranteed to be installed. However, there are several methods you can use to find the main water shutoff valve at home.

Investigate the Basement or Crawlspace

Track any water pipes or copper, brass, or galvanized metal knobs or levers that may be along the wall closest to the street side of the property. The main water supply line may contain plastic parts, cast iron, or even lead piping if the plumbing infrastructure is in an older, not-updated home.

Follow the Visible Water Lines

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.

Locate the Water Meter

If you know where the water meter is, usually 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 the recorded usage on the dial. The water meter may be installed outdoors instead of in the basement or crawlspace in warmer climates.

Inspect Interior or Exterior Walls

The shutoff valve can be inside or outside, depending on your exterior climate. The main water shutoff valve will be on the interior wall of the house if the home is located in an area where the temperature drops below freezing. Low temperatures can cause an outdoor water line to freeze and damage the water line. In warmer climates, the main shutoff valve could be outside., so walk around the house and check for water pipes that feed into the ground.

Look for a Panel in the Yard

Some homes have the main water shutoff valve in a chamber, pit, or shallow panel box. To reveal it, open the panel using a wrench.

Check the Property Inspection Report

If you can't find the main shutoff valve after a thorough search, locate the property inspection report you received before purchasing the home. The plumbing section of this report should list where the shutoff valve is located (it may also include a photo of the valve).

What to Do If You Can't Find the Main Water Shutoff Valve

If you can't find the valve, contact the local water department for help. Even if they cannot help locate the valve, the water department can shut the water off at the curb stop, allowing you or a hired plumber to install a main water shutoff valve for the home.

A plumbing company offering water line detection services may be able to locate the main water shutoff valve or confirm that your home's main shutoff valve is unreachable.

How to Shut Off Water in an Emergency

If you can't find the valve in your home in an emergency, you have several options:

1. Call your local water utility immediately for help.
2. Contact an emergency plumber who can likely turn the water off at the curb stop.
3. If you know where the curb stop access meter box is located, turn the valve a quarter-turn clockwise using a wrench or screwdriver if it is a ball valve.