When a pipe bursts, every minute counts. The worst time to look for your main shutoff is while water is pouring through the ceiling.
Where to look
On most North Texas homes, check these spots:
- On the front of the house, near a hose bib, often where the water line comes out of the ground
- In the garage, on the wall closest to the street
- In a wall box near the water line entry, sometimes with the pressure reducing valve
- At the meter box near the street. The meter valve may need a meter key, and in some cities the meter-side valve belongs to the city.
How to test it
- Turn the valve off. A lever-handle valve turns a quarter turn. A round handle turns clockwise until it stops.
- Open a faucet inside. Water should slow to a stop within a minute.
- Turn the valve back on slowly.
If it's stuck or won't fully shut off
Don't force it. Old valves can break when forced. A plumber can replace a stuck or leaking main shutoff with a new quarter-turn valve.
Make it easy for everyone
Show everyone in the house where the shutoff is. A tag on the valve helps.