Your home or business is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. A top priority becomes maintaining your property and keeping it safe from water, fire, mold, or storm damage.
A simple water shutoff valve is typically installed close to most indoor plumbing fixtures in areas like the bathroom or kitchen. Knowing where your property’s main water shutoff valve is located, along with how to shut it off if you have a burst pipe or other water emergency, can help prevent water damage to your property and any costly repairs.
Property Water Basics
Most homes and businesses in the U.S. get their water from a city supply line. There are many benefits from this supply, but it has the potential to spring a leak and cause water damage to your home or business. To be prepared if this happens, you need to know where your water shut-off valve is. The two most common types are a single-location shutoff valve and a whole house shutoff valve.
Single-Location Shutoff Valve
Most indoor plumbing areas include a single-location water shutoff valve. Things like a refrigerator, toilet, water heater, washing machine, and sink have a dedicated, individual shutoff valve. This valve lets the dedicated water supply for that area be shut off for installation, repair, or removal without disrupting the water supply to the rest of the property. In an emergency leak situation, it’s easy to manually shut the water supply off at these locations.
Whole House Shutoff Valve
Every home has one or more main water shutoff valves. They can be hard to find because the valve can be in different places, depending on how your property was constructed.
There are a limited number of places where the whole house shutoff valve can be located:
Basement. If you have a basement, this is the most likely place to find the main water shutoff valve. It’s usually located just a few feet from where the main water line comes in.
Crawlspace. If you have a crawlspace, the main water shutoff valve can be located underneath your property. In some cases, the main water line may run through the crawlspace before it enters your home. A second shutoff valve, located above ground, inside a garage is recommended.
Mechanical Room. Homes or businesses constructed on a slab don’t have underground access. The main water shutoff valve can usually be found in a mechanical room where the water heater is located, or under the kitchen sink.
Exterior Wall. Unlike cold weather regions, warmer climates do not need to bury water lines underground or below the frostline, so the main shutoff valve can be set into an exterior wall. The exterior main shutoff valve will usually be installed close to an outdoor faucet. Your property will not have an exterior main shutoff valve if you live in an area where the temperature drops below freezing.
The Yard. In neighborhoods, a main shutoff valve is installed in each yard, covered by an access panel that can be easily lifted off. A special key is sometimes needed to turn the water off. This access usually houses the curb stop valve.
SERVPRO is Here to Help®
Water is one of the most destructive forces in nature. Even the smallest water leak can damage floors, interior walls, or attic spaces, while severe water damage can lead to mold damage.
When you suffer water damage to your home, the trained technicians at SERVPRO are ready to help with everything from water damage, fire damage, and mold remediation services to roof tarping, board up, and construction. We work hard to make it “Like it never even happened.”