Plumbing · moderate safety risk
Locate and label the main water shutoff
Make the home’s water shutoff easy to find before a leaking pipe becomes an emergency.
- How often
- Review annually and after moving
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Editorial status
- Awaiting human review
Before you begin
Tools
- Flashlight
Supplies
- Durable label
How to do it
- Trace where the main water service enters the home or ask the utility or a plumber to identify it.
- Distinguish the house valve from utility-owned curb or meter valves.
- Make sure the route and valve are accessible without moving dangerous or heavy items.
- Label it clearly and show household members where it is; ask a plumber to demonstrate operation if its condition is uncertain.
Stop and get help when
- Corrosion
- Leak at the valve
- Valve will not move
- Water or electrical hazards near access
Ask a plumber to identify, test, repair, or replace an uncertain, seized, or leaking shutoff valve.
Sources and review
Written by Upkeeping editorial team. This draft is awaiting human subject-matter and safety review and is not eligible for search indexing.