New homeowner guide

Where is my water shut-off valve?

Updated 9 November 2026 · 7 minute read

When a pipe bursts, water can spread across a floor fast. The fix in that moment isn’t a plumber, who could be an hour away. It’s a valve you can close yourself, if you know where it is. Most people find theirs for the first time while standing in water. Spend ten minutes this week finding it instead.

Start with two clues

• Check your home inspection report. Many inspectors note where the main shut-off is, sometimes with a photo.
• Think about where water comes in. The supply line usually runs from the street, so the valve is often on the side of the house facing the street, close to where the pipe comes through the wall or floor.

Where to look, by type of home

Also look in a laundry room, under the stairs, and behind any small removable panel in a wall or closet. Builders tuck valves into odd places.

The curb box and the meter

There’s usually another valve out near the street, in a ground-level box by the water meter or the curb. That one often belongs to the water utility and may need a special key. Many utilities ask you to call them rather than open it yourself. Treat it as a backup, not your first move, and know your utility’s phone number.

If you live in a condo

Ask your HOA or building manager where your unit’s shut-off is, and who to call if a leak affects the units below. Find out before you need to.

Know your valve type

You’ll usually see one of two kinds.

• Gate valve: a round handle, like a small wheel. Turn it clockwise until it stops. It can take several turns. Older homes often have these.
• Ball valve: a straight lever handle. Turn it a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe. Handle in line with the pipe means open. Handle across the pipe means closed.

How to turn off the water to your house

1. Find the main shut-off valve. Look where the water line enters the house: the basement or crawl space wall facing the street, near the water heater, in a utility closet or in the garage. In some warm-climate slab homes it’s outside near a hose bib.
2. Check which type of valve it is. A round wheel handle is a gate valve. A straight lever handle is a ball valve.
3. Turn the valve off. For a gate valve, turn the wheel clockwise until it stops. For a ball valve, turn the lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
4. Open a faucet to check. Open a faucet on the lowest floor. The flow should slow to a trickle and stop. This also drains some water out of the pipes.
5. Stop if the valve won’t move. If the valve is stuck or starts leaking, don’t force it. Call a plumber, or call your water utility about shutting the water off at the street.

If a pipe bursts

Work through these in order.

1. Shut off the main valve. This stops new water coming in.
2. Open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the water still in the pipes. Opening a faucet upstairs too lets air in so it drains faster.
3. Turn off the water heater the way its manual describes. Many manuals say to switch it off or to a vacation or pilot setting when the water supply is off, so it doesn’t heat an empty tank. Electric heaters usually have a breaker.
4. Keep clear of electrics. If water is near outlets, cords or the breaker panel, stay out of it and call an electrician or your utility.
5. Call a plumber, then take photos of the damage for your insurer.

Test it once, then tag it

Finding the valve is half the job. The other half is knowing it works. With nothing urgent going on, turn it off, check a faucet, then turn it back on. Open it slowly and run a faucet for a minute to clear air from the lines.

Old gate valves sometimes start a small drip at the stem after being moved. A gentle snug of the nut just under the handle often stops it. If it keeps dripping, or the valve won’t turn without a lot of force, leave it and call a plumber. A stuck valve found on a quiet Saturday is much better than one found during a flood.

Then make it easy for everyone:

• Hang a bright tag on the valve so it’s obvious.
• Keep the path to it clear of boxes and storage.
• Show everyone in the house where it is and how it turns.
• Take a photo and save it with your home documents. A house sitter can find it from the picture.

Smaller shut-offs around the house

For a leak at one fixture you don’t need to shut off the whole house. Most fixtures have their own small valve:

• Sinks: two valves under the sink, one hot and one cold.
• Toilets: one valve on the wall or floor behind the toilet.
• Washing machine: hot and cold valves on the wall behind it.
• Water heater: a valve on the cold supply pipe going in.
• Fridge with an ice maker: often a small valve under the sink or behind the fridge.

These small valves can seize if they’re never used. Give them a turn when you test the main.

When to call a plumber

• The main valve won’t turn, or only turns with a lot of force.
• It leaks when you move it, and snugging the nut doesn’t fix it.
• It doesn’t fully stop the water when closed.
• You can’t find a main shut-off at all.

A plumber can free or replace a bad valve. Many homeowners swap an old gate valve for a ball valve, which is quicker to close in a hurry.

Questions about water shut-off valves