How to Shut Off Your Water in an Emergency
In a burst pipe emergency, the minutes you spend looking for the shut-off valve are minutes the water keeps running. Knowing where your main shut-off is before anything goes wrong is one of the simplest things a homeowner can do.
- ✓ Written for New York homeowners
- ✓ Visit first, then a plan
- ✓ Call to arrange a visit
This guide explains where the valve usually is, how it works in general terms, and what to do if you cannot find it or cannot turn it.
Locate the main shut-off before an emergency
The main shut-off is usually where the water line enters the house, often in a basement, a utility room, or near the water meter. In some homes it is under the kitchen sink or in a hallway cupboard, and in apartments it may be inside the unit or in a shared riser.
Go and find yours now, while everything is dry and calm. Note whether it is a lever handle that turns a quarter turn or a wheel handle that turns several times, and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.
Shut it off if it is safe to do so
In an emergency, turn the valve off if you can reach it without stepping into standing water. A lever handle usually closes with a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe, while a wheel handle turns clockwise until it stops.
If the valve is stiff, do not force it with tools that could break it. If it will not turn, leave it and call a professional. Turning off the water stops new water from entering, but it does not remove the water that is already in the house.
What to do if you cannot find it
If you cannot find the main shut-off, look for the water meter, since the valve is often nearby. Check the basement first, then the utility room, then under the kitchen sink. In a co-op or condo, the building manager or superintendent can usually tell you where it is.
If you still cannot find it, call a professional and describe the problem. They can advise you while they are on the way, and our guide to emergency water removal covers what happens once the water is stopped.
After the water is off
Once the water is off, open a tap on the lowest floor to drain the remaining water from the pipes, and move belongings away from the water if you can do so safely. Take photos of the damage for your records, and note where the leak seems to be.
In New York City, water damage help in New York City can arrange an inspection after a burst pipe, and burst pipe water damage repair explains the cleanup that follows. Do not turn the water back on until the source of the leak has been dealt with.
Key Takeaways
- The main shut-off is usually where the water line enters the house, often in a basement, a utility room, or near the water meter.
- In an emergency, turn the valve off if you can reach it without stepping into standing water.
- If you cannot find the main shut-off, look for the water meter, since the valve is often nearby.
- Once the water is off, open a tap on the lowest floor to drain the remaining water from the pipes, and move belongings away from the water if you can do so safely.
Ready for the Next Step?
Call to arrange a water damage visit in New York. Describe what you found and we will talk through the next step.
📞 Call (888) 855-7081(888) 855-7081