Key takeaway: Your main water shut-off valve is where the water line enters your house: usually in the garage, near the water heater, in a crawl space or on an outside wall. Turn a wheel handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Where to look in Augusta-area homes
| Home type | Where the main valve usually is |
|---|---|
| Slab home (no crawl space) | In the garage, a utility closet or near the water heater, where the line comes up through the slab |
| Crawl space home | Inside the crawl space near the front wall facing the street, or on an outside wall |
| Home with a basement | On the basement wall facing the street |
| Any home | A second valve is at the meter box near the street; it belongs to the utility |
Follow the line from the street: the valve is usually where that line first enters the house.
When should you shut off the main valve?
Not every leak needs the main valve. Use this chart to pick the right valve for the problem.
- Call now
A burst pipe or water you cannot stop
Close the main valve now, then call a plumber. - Call now
A leaking water heater
Close the cold supply on the heater, or the main valve if you cannot reach it. - Same day
A toilet or sink that will not stop running
Use the small valve behind the fixture first. The rest of the house keeps water. - Can wait
Leaving home for several days
Close the main valve before you go so a leak cannot run for days.
Gate valve vs ball valve: how each one closes
| Valve type | How it looks | How to close it |
|---|---|---|
| Gate valve | Round wheel handle | Turn clockwise until it stops; it may take several turns |
| Ball valve | Straight lever handle | Turn a quarter turn so the lever sits across the pipe |
Step by step
- Find the valve and clear anything in the way.
- Close it fully (clockwise wheel, or lever across the pipe).
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor to check: water should slow to a stop.
- Turn off the water heater if the water will be off for more than a short time.
My valve is stuck. What now?
- Do not force it with a long wrench; old gate valves can break and leak worse
- Try gentle back-and-forth pressure with a gloved hand
- If it will not move, shut off water at the meter box only if you have the right meter key and the utility allows it; otherwise call the utility or a plumber
- Have a stuck valve replaced with a ball valve once the emergency is over
Can I shut off water at the meter?
The meter and its valve belong to the utility. In an emergency, many homeowners use a meter key to turn the meter valve, but rules differ by utility, so check with yours. Augusta Utilities after hours: 706-842-3060. Columbia County Water Utility after hours: 706-860-2587.
Test your valve once a year
Turn it off and back on once a year so it does not seize. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is, and tag it so it is easy to spot in a hurry.
Smaller valves you can use first
Many leaks can be stopped without cutting water to the whole house. Look for these fixture valves:
| Where | Valve | How to close it |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet | On the wall or floor behind the toilet | Turn clockwise until it stops |
| Sinks | Under the sink, one for hot and one for cold | Turn clockwise until they stop |
| Water heater | On the cold water pipe above the tank | Turn the handle a quarter turn or clockwise |
| Washing machine | In the box behind the washer | Turn both handles clockwise |
| Outdoor faucets | Inside the house on the pipe that feeds the faucet | Close it before a freeze |
Test your main valve twice a year
- Find the valve and clear anything stored in front of it.
- Turn it off and check that a faucet in the house stops running.
- Turn it back on slowly to avoid a pressure surge.
- If the valve is stuck, leaks at the stem or does not stop the water, have a plumber replace it before you need it in an emergency.
When to call a plumber
Call if water is still leaking with the valve closed, if the valve is stuck or leaking itself, or if you cannot find it while water is running. For a burst pipe, see burst pipe repair.
