Knowing Where Your Water Shut Off Valve Is Can Prevent Damage

2/11/2019 (Permalink)

Photo by Michael Pereckas

Knowing how and where to shut off your home's water supply is as important as knowing how and where to turn-off or reset an electric breaker or replace a fuse.

Every home is required to have a main water shut-off valve installed during its initial construction.  For most emergencies, shutting-off the proper inside valve is a crucial first step to preventing more damage.

Basements:

The shut-off valve is typically located near the front foundation wall.  The main water supply may come through the concrete floor or through the wall.  The valve is typically within 3-5 feet of where the main water supply enters.  In some cases, the main water supply may enter in a different area, like a laundry room, or up through the floor, near the water heater or furnace.

Crawl Space and Basement

The shut-off valve may be where the water enters the basement or in some older homes, the shut-off may be inside the crawl space.  If the latter is true, you may want to consider a secondary valve located in the basement.

Crawl Space with No Basement

The shut-off valve will typically be located near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, but anywhere is possible.  As with a situation where there are a crawlspace and a basement, the valve may be inside a crawlspace; in which case, you may want to consider a secondary valve located up in the living space (near the water heater or under a sink).

Slab-On-Grade Construction

The shut-off valve will typically be located near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, but, again, it could be anywhere. It is important you know exactly where it is so you can be quick to turning it off in an emergency. Once you know where it is, you may want to tag it. Let your family members know where it is, and how to properly shut it off during a water emergency.