How to Shut Off Your Water in a Plumbing Emergency
A burst pipe or a fixture that won’t stop running can flood a room in minutes. Knowing where your shutoff is before an emergency is what saves the most damage. Here is how to stop the water, then call us at (210) 900-2929.
- Find your main shutoff valve. It is usually where the main water line enters the house: near the water heater, in the garage, in a utility closet, or along an exterior wall. Many area homes also have a curb stop at the meter box near the street.
- Turn off the main. If it is a round wheel handle (gate valve), turn it clockwise several full turns until it stops. If it is a lever handle (ball valve), turn it a quarter turn so the lever sits crosswise to the pipe.
- Release the pressure. Open the lowest faucet in the house, such as an outdoor spigot or garage tap, to drain the lines and confirm the flow has stopped.
- For a single fixture, use the local shutoff. The small oval valve under a sink or behind a toilet isolates just that fixture without cutting water to the whole house. Turn it clockwise.
- If the valve won’t move or you can’t find it, call us. Do not force a corroded valve, it can break. Call Rockin’ V Plumbing at (210) 900-2929 for 24/7 emergency dispatch across the service area.