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How to turn off your water
How to turn off your water...at the house
Your master shutoff valve is typically located outside the home in the front, side or backyard, or may be located in your garage. The master shutoff valve shuts off water to the house. Supply shutoff valves shut off the water to specific appliances and fixtures such as sinks, toilets, and washing machines.
In most cases, the master shutoff valve to the home will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve). Gate valves (pictured to the right) are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter-turn clockwise until the water is off.
To verify you have successfully turned off the water to your home, open the hose-bib next to the master shutoff valve or test a working supply or fixture inside the home.
To turn the water back on, either turn the gate valve counterclockwise or turn the ball valve a quarter-turn counterclockwise.
Warning: Turn the valve slowly to turn on the water to your home. Opening the valve too quickly can result in damage to the pipes in your home. Be sure to also clear any air from the water lines. You can do this by opening the hose-bib next to the master shutoff valve and running the water until the air is released.
How to turn off your water...at the meter
The customer shutoff valve located inside the meter box stops the flow of water from the meter to your property. The meter box, which houses the customer shutoff valve, is usually near the street at the front of your property. Once inside the meter box, locate the valve on the pipe between the meter and the poped to your home. This is the customer shutoff valve.
To turn off the water using the customer shutoff valve (pictured to the right) turn the handle one-quarter turn clockwise until the water is off. To verify the water is off, turn on the water anywhere in your home or around your property. Alternatively, if the water is off, the indicator on the face of the meter will stop turning or stop counting.
To turn the water back on, slowly turn the valve one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Warning: Turn the valve slowly to turn on the water to your home. Opening the valve too quickly can result in damage to the pipes in your home. Be sure to also clear any air from the water lines. You can do this by opening the hose-bib next to the master shutoff valve and running the water until the air is released.