Servicing your main water shutoff

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• Emergencies happen fast
  A burst pipe or major leak can flood a home in minutes. If the shutoff doesn’t work, the damage (and cost) skyrockets. 
• Valves can fail from sitting unused
  Most people never touch their main valve for years. They can seize up, break, or not fully close when you actually need them. 
• Insurance & damage control
  Being able to stop water quickly can save thousands in repairs and reduce insurance claims. 
• Peace of mind
  You don’t want to discover a bad valve at 2 AM during a crisis. 

1. Locate the valve 

• Usually where the water line enters the house (basement, crawl space, or near the water meter). 

2. Turn the valve off 

• Ball valve: turn the handle 90° (perpendicular to pipe = OFF) 
• Gate valve: turn clockwise until it stops (don’t force it) 

3. Check that water stops 

• Turn on a faucet (sink or tub) 
• Water should slow, then stop completely 

4. Turn the valve back on 

• Slowly reopen it (prevents pressure shock) 

5. Watch for issues 

• Leaks around the valve 
• Handle hard to turn or stuck 
• Water doesn’t fully shut off 

• Valve won’t turn or feels like it might break 
• Water doesn’t fully shut off 
• You see leaking or corrosion 
• It’s an old gate valve (these commonly fail)