Do you know how many times we hear this question in Charlotte, NC? Don’t wait until a plumbing disaster occurs. Everyone in your home should know how to turn off the water in your house, beyond turning off the faucet. Follow these simple tips and you and your family can assured if a plumbing disaster strikes.
1. Every sink and toilet in your home should have its own water shut-off valve.
Look in the cabinet under the sink or behind the toilet. Follow the piping until you find a handle attached to it. Turning this handle will shut the water off and on, but only to that particular water source. This is important to know if a pipe is leaking under the sink, or if water is seeping out from under the toilet.
2. Most homes have water shut-off valves under the home, in the garage, basement, or outside the home adjacent to the main water pipe. The water shut-off valve can actually be located in any room of the home, along whichever wall that’s closest to where the water supply enters the home. Just look for a panel box, shelving, or any opening in the sheetrock to locate it.
3. You will find one of two different types of valve heads.
Older valves look similar to an outdoor faucet with a hose bib as the valve and maybe a circular handles to turn the valve on and off. If there is no handle, simply use a pair of pliers to turn it on and off. Newer models of the water shut-off valve are plastic or metal switches that can be flipped from side to side to turn it on and off.
4. If you cannot find your water shut-off valve, I recommend having a professional come out and help you locate it. It’s better to be prepared now, than sorry later.
5. If there is an emergency and you cannot find your water shut-off valve or if the only water shut-off valve is the one provided by the water company, I would recommend calling a professional immediately before attempting to use the public works shut-off valve, because those can be tricky and you don’t want to be responsible for any mishaps.
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Article Summary
Quick question & answer: Where do I turn off the water to my house?
You can turn off water to your house through a shut-off valve under the home, in the garage, basement, or outside the home adjacent to the main water pipe. Older valves look like outdoor faucets and have circular handles to turn them on and off. Newer models have switches that can be flipped side to side to turn off water.
If I am away for 10 days, should I turn off the water at the water
heater/laundry source only or those at the kitchen sink and
toilets as well?
Alice, I'm sorry I was away myself! The best thing to do is just shut the entire house off at the water main valve it shuts down everything and gives you piece of mind while being away.