How to Turn Off the Water in Your Home

The day a water pipe bursts in your home, spraying water everywhere, is not the best time to figure out where your main water shut-off valve is located.

Likewise, if your washing machine is spilling water and your laundry room is flooding, you don’t want to be guessing where to shut off the water.

If a toilet won’t stop filling or flushing, you can handle it quickly if you know where to shut off the water.

So, let’s go over everything you need to know about turning off the water in your home.

Turn Off The Water Closest To The Problem

If water starts flooding out of your dishwasher, it’s important to know whether there is a shut-off valve for it under the kitchen sink. You should find one on a supply hose that runs toward the dishwasher. Turn it clockwise (usually a quarter-turn) to shut off the water.

For these tasks, you should be able to find a shut-off valve close to the plumbing fixture or appliance:

• Removing a washing machine / installing a new one
• Replacing the rubber washer in a leaking faucet
• Installing a new faucet
• Installing a new toilet

But what if you can’t find a shut-off valve near the fixture or appliance? In that case, you’ll need to use the main water shut-off valve.