How to stop water in your house

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

Whether you want to do some remodeling to your plumbing peripherals or need to shut off your water supply in a hurry in the case of an emergency, it’s best to know where and how to stop water in your house. Instead of scrambling to figure out where your water main is when you see water damage right in front of you, read our guide below to stop water in your house in an emergency before water damage occurs. 

Locating Your Water Main Shut-Off Valve 

Every home was required to have a main water shut-off valve installed inside the home during initial construction. For typical city dwellings, there are actually two main shut-off valves: one that the city controls outside of your house and one that you can control inside the house. Keep in mind that your city’s water main valve is always located on the street side of your water meter, often near the edge of your yard. Make sure to never tamper with the city shut-off side or the meter itself as it is illegal to tamper with, obstruct access to, or remove your city’s water meter. 

If you still have your property inspection report from when your purchased your home, the location of your water main should be documented in that report. If not, you will likely find it by searching in and around these key areas: 

• Underground within a pit at or near your property line. 
• Basement 
• Crawl space 

• Near your foundation 

Operating Your Water Main Shut-Off Valve 

Depending on how your water main is configured, you might need a few different tools to turn off the valve and stop the flow of water. While some valves can simply be turned by hand, many valves require a wrench or a meter key to turn properly. In either case, turning the valve clockwise will shut your home’s water supply off. 

Who to Call for Water Damage Remediation 

If you’ve found water damage in your home that needs to be addressed ASAP before it turns into something worse, then it’s best to call SERVPRO of Wilson County (615) 449-5000 while you locate and turn off your water main. Our team has an incredibly fast response rate and are available 24/7 to remediate any sized water damage issues that may arise.