To turn off the water valve for your whole house, find the main shutoff where the water line enters the home. Turn a round wheel clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever crosswise to the pipe. DisasterPRO Restoration is a locally owned water damage company founded in 2018 in Kent, WA. This guide is for homeowners in Kent, Renton, Tacoma, Fife and Seattle, WA.
Where the Main Water Shutoff Valve Is Usually Located
The main water shutoff valve sits on the pipe that brings water into the house. Look close to the spot where that line comes through the foundation, slab or floor.
A practical way to find the main valve is to follow the cold water line backward. Start from the water heater or from an outdoor hose bib on the side of the house that faces the street, and trace the pipe toward where it enters the home.
The valve inside the house is the one meant for everyday homeowner use. The valve in the meter box near the curb or property line is part of the service connection at the meter. Before you ever need it, ask your water provider whether you may operate that valve and what tool it takes.
To confirm you have the main valve and not a branch valve, close it and then open a faucet on the highest floor and one on the lowest floor. If both stop flowing once the leftover pressure bleeds off, you found the main. If water keeps running, keep looking, because you closed a valve that feeds only part of the house.
- Basement or utility room, low on the wall that faces the street
- Crawl space, near where the supply line comes up through the foundation
- Garage, low on a wall or close to the water heater
- Utility closet or laundry area
- Under the kitchen sink or near the water heater in some homes built on a slab
- Outside, inside the meter box at the curb or property line (the meter-side valve)
What a Home Water Shutoff Valve Looks Like: Gate Valve vs. Ball Valve
A home water shutoff valve usually has one of two handles. A gate valve has a round wheel. A ball valve has a straight lever. Each one closes differently, so knowing which one you have saves time during a leak.
Which way do you turn a water valve? Wheel handles and small fixture knobs close clockwise (righty-tighty). For a lever handle, look at its position. In line with the pipe means open, and crosswise to the pipe means closed.
| Valve type | Handle | How to turn it off | How to tell it is closed | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gate valve | Round wheel, often metal | Turn clockwise by hand, several turns, until it stops | The wheel will not turn further clockwise and faucets stop once pressure drains | An older gate valve can stick or fail to seal fully; do not force it with a wrench |
| Ball valve | Straight lever | Turn the lever until it sits crosswise to the pipe | The lever is perpendicular to the pipe | It closes quickly, so move the lever smoothly instead of snapping it shut |
| Fixture stop valve | Small oval or round knob under sinks and behind toilets | Turn clockwise until snug | That single fixture stops flowing | A stop that has not moved in years may drip at the stem after you turn it |
| Meter-side valve | Tab or stem inside the meter box | Usually needs a meter key; check with your water provider first | Water stops entering the property | The lid can be heavy and the box may hold standing water or debris |
How to Turn Off the Main Water to Your House, Step by Step
Turning off the main water to your house goes faster if you follow the steps in order. That matters most when water is coming through a ceiling or spreading across a floor.
To turn the water back on after the repair, reverse the process. Open the main slowly and leave a faucet open to push out trapped air. Close the faucet once the flow runs steady, then check the repaired spot for drips.
- Stay out of standing water that is near outlets, cords or appliances. If water has reached anything electrical, shut off power to that area at the panel, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Take a flashlight and go to the main shutoff valve.
- Turn a wheel handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever crosswise to the pipe.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house, such as a basement sink or an outdoor hose bib, to drain pressure from the lines.
- Watch the leak. If water keeps flowing after the lines have drained, the main valve may not be sealing. Contact your water provider about the meter-side valve.
- If the water heater is the source, or the tank may drain, follow the manufacturer's instructions for shutting off its power or gas.
- Take photos and video of the wet areas before you move belongings, then start removing water you can safely reach.
- Leave the main off until the leak is repaired.
Main Water Shut Off Valve in a Crawl Space: Safety Before Speed
A main water shut off valve in a crawl space can be the hardest valve to reach during a leak. Your instinct will be to rush in. A quick safety check first protects you and does not cost much time.
Hazards in a crawl space can include water near wiring, wet insulation hanging from the floor above, tight clearances and sewage you cannot see from the hatch. If you smell sewage, or the broken line is a drain or sewer pipe rather than a supply pipe, closing the water supply will not stop what is already under the house. Stay out and get help.
DisasterPRO Restoration works in crawlspaces as tight as 18 inches, including crawlspaces with raw sewage. The company handles sewage backups and black water with full PPE and hospital-grade disinfectants. Crawlspace work is one of the services the company lists.
- Go in only if the access path is dry or only damp, with no standing water near electrical lines or fixtures
- Wear sturdy shoes and gloves, carry a flashlight, and tell someone in the house you are going in
- Do not enter if you smell sewage or see waste in the water
- Back out if the space is too tight to turn around safely
- If the crawl space valve is unsafe to reach, ask your water provider about shutting off service at the meter
Shutting Off Water to Just One Fixture Instead of the Whole House
Shutting off water to just one fixture works when the leak is clearly limited to a single sink, toilet or appliance and that fixture has its own stop valve. Turn the small knob under the sink or behind the toilet clockwise until it is snug. The rest of the house keeps running water.
Look for individual shutoffs in these places. Under bathroom and kitchen sinks, where the kitchen valve may also feed the dishwasher. Behind each toilet, near the floor. Behind the washing machine, with separate hot and cold taps. On the cold water line into the water heater. On the small line that feeds a refrigerator ice maker.
A water heater leak is a common reason to look for a fixture-level valve. Our guide on what to do when a water heater is leaking walks through that situation in more detail.
Go straight to the main valve instead when the leak is inside a wall or ceiling, when you cannot tell which fixture is leaking, or when the fixture stop will not close.
What Happens After You Turn Off the Main Water Valve
Turning off the main water valve stops new water from entering the home's pipes. Some water that is already in the lines can still drain out at the leak until the pressure is gone. Opening a low faucet speeds that up.
While the main is off, nothing in the house gets fresh water. Toilets will not refill, showers and sinks will not run, and the water heater will not refill if it is drawn down. Keep some bottled water on hand, and check the water heater manual before running the heater with the supply closed.
Shutting off the water stops the source, but it does not dry anything. Water that soaked into drywall, flooring or insulation stays there until it is removed and dried. Our checklist on what to do after water damage before cleanup covers documentation and safety.
DisasterPRO Restoration extracts the water, dries the structure, sanitizes affected areas and documents the damage. The crew uses commercial dehumidifiers and air movers and checks moisture levels daily until the home is completely dry. You can read how that water mitigation process works.
The company takes 24/7 emergency calls in King and Pierce County and answers in person, day or night. It aims to have a crew at your door within 60 minutes anywhere in Greater Seattle. Pages for water damage restoration in Seattle and the Tacoma service area list neighborhood details.
DisasterPRO Restoration bills insurance directly and helps with the claim. The guide does homeowners insurance cover water damage restoration explains what to check in your policy.
Water Shut-Off Mistakes That Make Water Damage Worse
Water shut-off mistakes in an emergency usually come from rushing or from not knowing the house. Most of them can be avoided once you know what to watch for.
Forcing a stuck valve with a pipe wrench or long cheater bar can crack the valve body or the pipe next to it. Then a controlled leak turns into a burst. If the valve will not move by hand with steady pressure, stop and use the meter-side option or call for help.
Closing the wrong valve wastes minutes. Use the faucet test described above to confirm the house is actually dry at the taps.
Walking through standing water to reach a valve while power is still on in that area puts you at risk. Water and live outlets or appliances do not mix, so deal with the electrical risk first.
Turning the main back on to check whether the leak stopped, before anything has been repaired, refills the damaged line. Leave it off until the repair is done.
Mopping the visible water and moving on can leave moisture inside walls, under flooring or in the crawl space, where mold can start later. A moisture check with meters finds what a towel cannot.
Home Water Shutoff Readiness Checklist
A home water shutoff readiness check takes little time on a calm day and saves real time during a leak. Run through this list once, and show everyone in the household where the valve is and how it turns.
- Find the main valve and confirm it with the faucet test
- Label the main valve with a bright tag and note the closing direction
- Turn the main valve gently closed and open again to make sure it moves by hand
- Find and test the stop valves under each sink, behind each toilet, behind the washer and at the water heater
- Keep a flashlight, gloves and towels near the main valve
- Ask your water provider about the meter-side valve and whether you need a meter key
- Keep the crawl space access clear if the main valve is under the house
- Save a restoration company's contact details and your insurance policy number where you can reach them quickly
Frequently asked questions
Which way do I turn a water valve to shut it off?
To shut off a water valve, turn a round wheel handle or a small fixture knob clockwise until it stops. For a lever-style ball valve, turn the lever so it sits crosswise to the pipe. A lever in line with the pipe means the valve is open.
What happens when you turn off the main water valve?
When you turn off the main water valve, new water stops entering the house's pipes. Water already in the lines may still drain from the leak until the pressure is gone. Faucets, showers and toilets will not refill until the main is turned back on.
Can I shut off water to just one faucet?
Yes, you can shut off water to just one faucet if it has its own stop valve, usually under the sink. Turn the stop clockwise until snug. If there is no stop valve or it will not close, use the main water valve instead.
How do I shut off the main water valve to my house?
To shut off the main water valve to your house, find it where the water line enters the home, often in a basement, crawl space, garage or utility area. Turn a wheel clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever crosswise to the pipe. Then open a low faucet to drain the lines.
How to turn off water to house without tool
You can usually turn off water to the house without a tool by turning the main valve's wheel or lever by hand. If it will not move with steady hand pressure, do not force it. The meter-side valve usually needs a meter key, so ask your water provider about it ahead of time.
Dealing with water, mold or fire damage right now? Call DisasterPRO Restoration at (206) 880-1421 or request an estimate online.