Is there a plumbing leak or burst pipe in your home? If so, the first thing you’ll need to do is cut off the water supply using your main water valve. Doing so will help reduce property damage and allow you to investigate the issue further. The amount of property damage from water leaks can be devastating both mentally and financially. Finding the main water valve is going to be what keeps your house from losing more than just water.
If this is your first plumbing issue, or you’ve just forgotten, you may not know what this valve is or where it’s located. Here’s what you need to know about your main water valve, where to find it and more.
What is a Main Water Valve?
The main water valve is what controls the flow of water between the water meter and your house. if you have a municipal water supply or well water, you will have some type of main water valve.
Where is Your Main Water Valve Located?
Each house is different and therefore will have a different location for the main water valve. However, there are only a few places the valve could be located.
Homes with a Basement and Crawl Space
If your home has a basement or underground crawl space, a good place to look is where the plumbing enters your home. Save yourself some time if you have the property inspection report on hand. This will tell you exactly where the main water valve is and typically have a photo of it as well.
But if you don’t have that with you, the main valve can generally be found near the front wall of your home that is closest to the street. Remember, the water supply will travel along the shortest distance from the source to your house. If you’ve found your water meter while looking around, you’re most likely very close to the main shut-off valve.
Homes Built on a Slab
Slab-built homes have two locations to find the main water valve. First, check the area surrounding your hot water heater. If you don’t see it there, your garage is the next place to look.
If your main water valve is still nowhere in sight, the next place to check is outside your home toward the street or near the curb. If you come across an iron cover, most likely circular, you should be able to see the words “water” or “water meter” on it. The main shut-off valve could be beneath this plate. If you’re up for a little adventure, try prying the cover up with a screwdriver or wedge of some sort. Once the cover is open, you’ll see an underground box with the city shut-off, water meter and your shut-off valve. Be sure to use the valve that is either a ball valve or a gate valve (detailed below). If you see one that looks different from those, it is only for the city.
For homes with either a basement and crawl space or homes with a slab, you may also encounter a PEX plumbing manifold. This may be seen in newer homes and will have two large pipes for hot and cold. This type of plumbing will also have a shut-off valve for the entire house.
How To Turn Off the Main Water Valve?
Now that you’ve figured out how to find your main water valve, it’s time to turn it off and stop water from flowing to your home. Depending on where your shut-off valve is located or who installed the plumbing, you may be dealing with different types of valves.
Turning Off Different Types of Valves
The main concern here is shutting the valve off without creating any other plumbing damage. You’ll want to make sure you have a grasp on how to use the different valves that you may encounter. The two most common valves for a main water valve are a ball valve and a gate valve.
Ball Valve
The ball valve is what is often used for the shut-off valve. With this type of valve, a ball with a hole in it is used to pivot and either block or allow water to pass through. To use this, you just need to give it a quarter turn where it should be perpendicular to the pipe.
Gate Valve
A gate valve is what you’re used to seeing on a garden hose spigot. Gate valves work exactly how they sound, a gate going up and down to control water flow. This requires the classic “lefty loosey, righty tighty” method to open or close the valve. Just make sure the valve is snug when tightening it to close the main water line.
Other Valves That Can Be Turned Off
You may need to know about other valves that can be shut off in your home. These other valves are known as isolation valves.
What Are Isolation Valves?
Isolation valves are what control the flow of water to specific areas in your home. These are typically found in:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchens
- Showers
- Toilets
- Washing Machines
Where are isolation valves located?
Finding isolation values is critical when you are experiencing a leak in a specific area of your home. Some common places to look are:
Toilets
This valve can be found underneath the toilet near the wall. It will be on flexible metal tubing and should be easy to cut off. Do not force it as the handles are usually plastic and can break.
Sinks
If you look under your sink or in the cabinet beneath it, you should be able to find the valve. There will be two flexible metal tubes where the handles turn clockwise to shut them off. Be careful not to force these as well.
Washing Machine
Most houses come with easily accessible valves behind the washer. They should stand out either at first sight or once you move the washer. These can then be turned off like other isolation valves.
Showers or Bathtubs
If your shower or bathtub has exposed plumbing, the shut-off will be visibly similar to a washing machine’s valves. However, if you do not see them, the valves are likely hidden in the wall.
Too Much Hassle? Call an Expert Plumber
If you’ve been looking all around and still don’t know how to find your main water valve, Mike Wilson Plumbing can help. Our crew has years of residential plumbing experience in Richmond, VA. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.