A burst pipe or failed water heater can put hundreds of gallons of water on your floor in minutes. The single most useful thing you can know in a plumbing emergency is how to shut off the water to your house. Take five minutes to find yours now, before you need it.
Where to look in a Las Vegas home
1. In the garage near the water heater
In many Las Vegas homes, the main water line enters the house in the garage. Look for a valve on a pipe coming up out of the floor or the wall, often near the water heater or water softener loop. It may have a lever handle or a round wheel.
2. Outside, near the front of the house
Some homes have the main shutoff on an exterior wall facing the street, sometimes near the hose bib, or in a small box near the front of the house. This is often where the pressure-reducing valve is too.
3. At the water meter
If you can’t find a house shutoff, the water can be shut off at the meter box near the street. Meter valves can be stiff and may need a meter key. In an emergency, your water utility can help.
How to turn it off
- Lever (ball) valve: turn the handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
- Wheel (gate) valve: turn clockwise until it stops. Don’t force it. Old gate valves can break.
What to do after you shut off the water
- If the water heater is leaking, turn off its gas valve or the breaker for an electric heater.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point in the house to drain pressure from the lines.
- Move valuables out of the water and start drying the area.
- Take photos for insurance.
- Call a plumber.
Test your valve before an emergency
Main shutoff valves that haven’t been used in years can seize or leak when you finally turn them. If yours is stuck, corroded or leaking, it’s worth having it replaced so it works when you need it. Learn about main line and shutoff valve service.
Plumbing emergency right now?
Call TPM Services at 702-932-5755. Our phone is answered 24/7 by a real person who can walk you through shutting off the water and get help on the way. More about our 24/7 emergency plumbing.
