How to Turn Off Your Water
A water leak, planned work on your sprinkler system, venturing away from home, or an emergency may necessitate turning off the water to your home. Do you, and everyone in your household, know how to turn off the water to your home? The information below guides you on locating and turning off your water by utilizing the “house valve” aka “customer valve.”
Locating your house valve
- Your house valve is typically outside your home and may be located in the front, on the side or in the backyard.
- Locate the hose bib (outside faucet) next to your home that is mounted on a pipe coming up from the ground. (See Photo)
- The house valve is located on that pipe between the ground and the hose bib.
Operating your house valve
Your house valve can be one of two types: a gate valve or a ball valve.
- Gate valves close by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off.
- Ball valves close by turning the straight handle a quarter turn clockwise until the water if off.
- To verify the water is off, turn on the hose bib next to the house valve. As you turn the house valve off, the water from the hose bib should stop.
- To turn the water back on, either turn the gate valve counterclockwise or turn the ball valve a quarter turn counterclockwise.
You may want to attach a tag or label to your house valve for quick identification so that you and the members of your household can find it even in the dark.
Everyone in your home should know how to shut off the water to your home. In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or an unexpected winter freeze, you may want to turn off the water supply to your home to prevent water damage to your property. Take a few minutes to locate and learn how to operate your house valve.