How do I turn off my water in an emergency?
Most of us don’t think about having to turn off the water to the entire house. It’s a good idea to know where the shut-off valve is located in case there is ever an emergency.
Single Family House
To turn off the water for a house, the valve can be found in these locations:
- Near the water heater
- Inside the garage
- Under the kitchen sink
- Where the main water pipe comes out of the ground and into the front wall of the house
- Next to the city meter near the street in front of the house (do NOT tamper with the city shut-off valve or the meter as it is illegal to do so)
Attached Houses
It may be a little more difficult to find the shut-off valve for attached houses. This makes it even more important to know where it is before something happens.
- Outside your unit
- In a group at the end of the building
- Laundry room
- Closet
- Kitchen cabinet
Isolation Valves
Most plumbing fixtures have their own separate valve. Your sink, toilet, washing machine, or water heater should have a small valve located near the plumbing.
A Word of Warning
A valve or lever that hasn’t been turned in years can be extremely difficult or even impossible to turn. Before you have an emergency, make sure that you can turn the valve or lever.
Would you like peace-of-mind?
Schedule an appointment with us here at 1-800-anytyme and we can help make sure that your shut-off valve is in good working order. Contact us via our contact form or call (760) 477-0072 to speak with a member of our team today!