How to Find and Shut Off Your Main Water Valve

When a pipe bursts in your ceiling or a washing machine hose snaps, water can gush into your home at 10 to 15 gallons per minute. In that moment of panic, you cannot wait 30 minutes for a plumber to arrive—you must stop the water immediately. Every homeowner must know exactly where their main water shut-off valve is located.

Where to Look

The main shut-off valve is typically located where the municipal water line first enters your house. In Spartanburg & Greenville, depending on the age and style of your home, check these three common locations:

• The Crawlspace or Basement: Look on the wall facing the street. The valve is usually located on the pipe right before it branches off to the water heater.
• The Utility Closet: In homes built on a concrete slab, the valve is often placed inside the garage or a utility closet near the water heater.
• The Exterior Meter Box: If you cannot find a valve inside the home, there is always a master valve inside the concrete or plastic meter box buried in your front yard near the street. You will need a "water meter key" (a special wrench available at hardware stores) to turn this underground valve.

Test Your Valve Today

Don't wait for an emergency. Go find your valve right now. If it is an older "gate valve" (it looks like a circular garden hose wheel) and it is covered in rust or refuses to turn easily, do not force it! Old valves can snap off entirely, causing an immediate flood.

If your valve is stuck, call Pipedex Plumbing & Drains at 864-900-0300. We will quickly upgrade your outdated valve to a modern, highly reliable quarter-turn ball valve that can be shut off effortlessly in an emergency.