Short answer: To shut off water to your house, find the main shut-off valve where the water line enters the home, often on an outside wall, in the garage or near the water heater. Turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe, or turn a round handle clockwise until it stops. If you can't find it, use the customer valve at the meter.
Knowing how to shut off your water is one of the most useful things a homeowner can learn. A burst pipe can release a lot of water fast. The sooner the water is off, the less damage it does. After it's off, SRQ Leak Pros can connect you with a local pro for emergency water line repair in Sarasota.
How to shut off water to your house: step by step
- Go to the main shut-off valve. Check the places listed below.
- Identify the handle type. A lever (ball valve) or a round wheel (gate valve).
- Close it. Turn a lever a quarter turn so it is across the pipe. Turn a wheel clockwise until it stops. Don't force it.
- Test it. Open a faucet. The flow should stop after the pipes drain.
- Turn off the water heater. Switch off power, or set a gas heater to pilot, so it doesn't heat an empty tank.
- Drain the pipes if needed. Open a low faucet outside to relieve pressure in the house.
Where is the main water shut-off valve?
In Florida, where most homes have no basement, check these spots:
- On an outside wall where the water line enters the house, often near a hose bib
- In the garage, near the water heater or the laundry hookups
- In a small box or under a cap near the front foundation
- In a utility closet with the water heater
- Inside the meter box near the street, on the house side of the meter
If your home has a whole-house filter or softener, the main valve is often right before it.
Valve won't close or still leaking? Call to reach a local water line pro.
Call (941) 541-0938Main valve types
| Valve | How it looks | How to close |
|---|---|---|
| Ball valve | A lever handle | Quarter turn so the lever crosses the pipe |
| Gate valve | A round wheel handle | Turn clockwise until it stops |
| Meter valve | A flat tab or handle at the meter | Often needs a meter key; turn a quarter turn |
Gate valves can stick or break if they haven't been used in years. Turn slowly. If one won't move, use the meter valve instead.
Using the valve at the meter
Most meter boxes have a valve on the house side of the meter. Some have a utility-owned valve on the street side too. Use the customer valve if one is there. Some need a meter key, which you can buy at a hardware store. Avoid damaging the meter or its connections, which usually belong to the utility.
Shut off one fixture instead
For a leak at one sink, toilet or appliance, you may not need to turn off the whole house. Look for small valves called angle stops:
- Toilets: behind the toilet, near the floor.
- Sinks: under the sink, one for hot and one for cold.
- Washing machine: on the wall behind the washer.
- Water heater: a valve on the cold water inlet at the top.
- Ice maker: behind the refrigerator or under the sink.
What to do after the water is off
- Take photos of the leak and any damage for insurance.
- Move valuables away from water.
- Stay clear of wet electrical outlets.
- Call your utility if water is coming from the street or inside the meter box. The City of Sarasota asks residents to report leaks at meter boxes, hydrants and in the street.
- Call a pro for leaks on your side.
Florida Statutes § 627.70132 requires notice of a property insurance claim within 1 year after the date of loss. Report damage promptly. This is general information, not legal advice.
Prepare before an emergency
- Find and label the main valve. Tag it so everyone in the home can find it.
- Test it once a year. Close it and open it to make sure it moves.
- Clear the area. Keep plants and storage away from the valve and meter box.
- Buy a meter key if your meter valve needs one.
- Add a lever valve. If your main is an old gate valve, a pro can replace it with a ball valve.
- Close the main before long trips. The EPA's two-hour meter test is a good check when you return.
Local note: seasonal homes on Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Casey Key in Nokomis should close the main before the owner leaves. In Osprey and other bayfront areas, shut-off valves near salt air can corrode, so test them yearly.
Related reading: once the water is off, learn who is responsible for the water line from the street to the house. Then check the signs of a water service line leak to see if the problem is in the yard. If insurance may help with the damage, read does insurance cover slab leaks. If flow stays weak after you reopen the valve, read why water pressure drops.
When should you call an emergency plumbing professional?
Call a pro when:
- A pipe has burst inside the home or in the yard
- The main valve won't close or still leaks
- You have no water and neighbors do
- Water is near electrical panels or outlets
Water still on or a pipe has burst? Call (941) 541-0938 to reach a local emergency pro.
Call (941) 541-0938Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my main water valve is closed?
Open a faucet after closing it. Water should slow and stop once the pipes drain. If it keeps flowing, the valve isn't fully closed or isn't the main.
Is it safe to shut off my own water at the meter?
Using the customer valve on the house side of the meter is usually fine. Avoid tampering with the meter itself or utility-owned parts.
Should I turn off the water heater when the water is off?
Yes. Switch off power to an electric heater or set a gas heater to pilot so it doesn't heat an empty tank.
How often should I test my main shut-off valve?
Once a year is a good habit. Old gate valves can stick if they're never used.
Sources
Related guides
Service Lines9 Signs of a Water Service Line Leak
Nine clues that the buried pipe from your meter is leaking, plus a simple test to confirm it.
Service LinesWho Is Responsible for the Water Line from the Street to the House?
Where the utility's pipe ends, where yours begins, and who to call for each kind of leak.