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How to Turn Off Water in Your House

Locate the Main Water Shut-Off Valve

This is usually where the main water line enters your home.

Common Locations:

• Under the kitchen sink

• In a utility room, basement, or garage (often on a wall facing the street)

• Outside near the water meter (in a covered box or pit)

Turn the Valve Off

There are two common types of shut-off valves:

Stop Valve (Round handle):

• Turn clockwise (right) until it stops.

Lever Valve:

• Turn the lever 90 degrees so it's perpendicular to the pipe.

TIP: It may take a few turns for the water to stop completely, especially in older systems.

Drain the System (Optional but Helpful)

• Open all taps (starting with the highest and working down) to drain residual water.

• Flush toilets to empty the cisterns.

Turning Off Water to Specific Fixtures

If you don't need to shut off the whole house, you can isolate water to:

• Toilets – Isolation valves on the pipe going into the toilet

• Sink/Basin – Isolation valves on the pipe going into the sink or basin taps

• Washing machine – Taps behind the machine

When Should You Turn Off Your Water?

• Leaking or burst pipes

• Boiler or radiator repairs

• Installing taps, toilets, or appliances

• Going on holiday (to avoid damage from unnoticed leaks)