Find the main shutoff and test it now, before you need it. In a burst pipe, every minute spent looking is water on the floor.
Where to look
- Where the main line comes through the foundation or floor, often on the wall facing the street
- In the garage or utility room, frequently near the water heater
- In a crawl space or basement, low on a front wall
- In warm climates, sometimes outside near the foundation
How to close it
A lever-handle ball valve closes with a quarter turn, so the handle sits across the pipe. A round-handle gate valve closes clockwise, several full turns until it stops. Do not force a stuck gate valve — old ones can break.
Open a faucet on the lowest floor afterward to confirm the water is off and to drain the pressure.
Individual fixture shutoffs
Most toilets, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines have their own small valves. For a problem at one fixture, closing that valve lets the rest of the house keep running.
When professional help makes sense
If the main valve is seized, leaks when turned or cannot be found, have it replaced or located. A working shutoff is the single most useful thing a house can have in a plumbing emergency.