How to Shut Off Your Water Supply in Urgent Situations

The primary valve for halting water flow is characteristically found not far from the very entry point of the water line into your abode. This location is frequently a lower level, like a basement, a crawl space, or a utility area. What you're after is a valve that looks somewhat like a wheel or lever attached to a pipe. Its usual spot is on a wall that faces the street or somewhat in the clear, where a past plumber or DIYer might have put it for accessible convenience.

The two most usual varieties of primary water shut-off valves are gate valves and ball valves. Gate valves sport a hand wheel and work by raising or lowering a metal gate inside the valve body. Ball valves have a lever handle and work by turning a ball with a hole through it, allowing the water to flow or blocking it. Identifying which kind of valve you have can clue you in on whether to turn the hand wheel to the right or left or to make a quarter turn with the lever to stop the water.

In an emergency, you must find the main water shut-off valve. If there is a gate valve, you must turn the handle clockwise until the flow of water stops. If there is a ball valve, you must turn the lever until it is perpendicular to the pipe to stop the flow. This is all very urgent because we do not want significant water damage to happen to our living spaces. In these situations, we must act fast and know our main inside-the-house water shut-off valve very well.

Indeed, numerous residences are equipped with shut-off valves that control individual water fixtures or sections of plumbing. These valves are rarely placed in conspicuous locations; most are near the appliances or fixtures they serve, such as under sinks or next to toilets. Because turning these localized valves clockwise does not negatively affect the entire home's water supply, you can feel free to open and close them as needed while making repairs or completing maintenance in specific areas.

Usually, turning off your main water supply does not require any special tools. But if the valve hasn't been used in a while or is stuck, you may need pliers or a wrench for extra leverage. Keep these tools nearby and easily reachable. Check the valve every so often to make sure it can be turned, without your needing any tools, in the direction that you would turn it to shut off the water. If it can be turned that way and just as easily in the other direction, then it is a good, working valve.

Routine servicing can help guarantee that your water shut-off valve works correctly. You should test the valve at least once every six months, if not more often, and here is my valve-testing method: First, twist the valve's handle to the off position. Then observe just for a few moments to confirm that no water is seeping from around the valve and that no water or electricity in combination might be putting you in harm's way. If you feel even marginally unsafe, then skip the next step and have a professional do the work. If you feel safe, then go ahead and run the next test. Use a utility flashlight to visually pierce any watery darkness that might be seeping from your valve's seams.

Ensure all household members are informed before turning off the water supply. This lets everyone prepare to manage without running water for a while.Once the valve is turned off, open any faucet to let out the water pressure still left in the lines.This will help avoid subsequent leaks and guarantee a more complete stop.Furthermore, in the event of an emergency shut-off, you should turn off your water heater to avoid overheating and potential damage.

When the problem is fixed, restore the water supply slowly to avoid a sudden surge that could lead to even more plumbing issues. Open the main valve as far as it will go and let it run until it's clear. Then check each fixture—inside and out—for correct operation. That goes for water flow and for anything that could leak or drip. Here’s a useful tip: Run water through the taps for a few minutes to make sure everything in the line is clear. That should also help clear any air that got trapped in the water line.

If you cannot find or work your shut-off valve, you should get help from a professional plumber. They can find the valve and fix it if there's a problem; if they know where it is, then you should know where it is too. They can also help you upgrade your system to work better in any situation, not just during emergencies—which could make it more dependable in emergencies.

Do not attempt to fix your shut-off water valve if it is broken and you do not know plumbing. Leave the job to someone who has the same kind of experience as the valve's original manufacturer.Consult with a licensed plumber to evaluate and correct the trouble, because a misstep in the repair can set off a chain of additional problems.In the meantime, curtail your use of water, and keep an eye out for any leaks that might result in damage from water.Talk to the plumber about putting in a valve that's both up-to-date and easy to get at, so that it won't be a big deal to shut the water off in the future.