When a pipe bursts, the single most important thing you can do is stop the water. That means knowing where your main shut-off valve is before you need it. Take five minutes today to find yours.
Where to look in a South Florida home
- Near the water meter. Most homes on city water have a meter box near the street or sidewalk. There's usually a curb stop in the box that the utility controls, and often a customer-side valve right next to it.
- Where the line enters the house. Many slab homes have a valve on an exterior wall, often near a hose bib, on the side of the house closest to the street.
- In the garage. Some homes have the main valve near the water heater or where the supply line comes up through the slab.
- On well systems. Look near the pressure tank; there's typically a valve on the line leaving the tank toward the house.
- In a condo. Units usually have a shut-off in the water heater closet, a utility closet or under the kitchen sink. Some buildings control shut-offs from a riser in the hallway.
What the valve looks like
A ball valve has a lever handle. When the handle is in line with the pipe, it's open; a quarter-turn so it's crosswise closes it. A gate valve has a round wheel handle that you turn clockwise several times to close. Gate valves are common in older homes and can seize or fail to close completely.
Test it (gently)
Turn on a faucet, then close the main valve. The flow should stop within a few seconds. If the handle won't budge, don't force it with a wrench; an old valve can break. Have a plumber replace it with a quarter-turn ball valve.
Make it easy to find
- Tag the valve with bright tape or a label.
- Keep a meter key in the garage if your valve is in the meter box.
- Show everyone in the house where it is and how to close it.
A working shut-off valve turns a potential flood into a mop-up. If yours is stuck, corroded or missing, replacing it is one of the cheapest insurance policies in plumbing.
Need help?
Our 24/7 emergency plumbing team serves Davie and all of Broward County. Call (954) 870-5492.