Where to Find Your Home's Water and Gas Shut Off Valves

When you need to find shut-off valves in your home, you usually need to find them fast. Whether you’re dealing with a leaking dishwasher or a different kind of troublesome leak or stoppage, it’s essential to know the location of your home’s main gas and water shut-off valves. Shutting off the water and gas valves in your home in case of emergency can help protect your home and family, prevent headaches, and save you dollars down the line by helping to avoid damage.

Let’s walk through the different types of shut-off valves you may find in your home, and when you may need to use each one.

Main Water Shut-Off Valve

This valve controls the water supply to your entire home and is usually located below an outdoor water faucet, in the front of your home, or near your water heater. When you need to shut off the water supply to your whole home — for example, if you see water pooling and aren’t sure where it’s coming from — this is the valve you need to find. So, what does the outside water shut-off valve look like? There are a few different types of valves you may need to deal with.

• A gate valve (a round knob, like the ones that likely controls your outdoor faucet) can be closed by turning clockwise as far as possible, and
• A ball valve (a straight, lever-like handle) can be closed by turning it 90 degrees until it’s perpendicular to the water pipe.

If you still can’t find your main water shut-off valve, it may be in the ground near your front curb in a covered cement box labeled “water.” When you open the box, turn off the valve closest to your home. Sometimes these curb boxes require a special tool called a water meter key, which you can typically purchase at your local hardware store.

Note: If you’re unclear about which valve to turn off inside the curb box, call your local municipality, and they will shut off your water at no charge to you. If your home is connected to a well the water shut-off valve will likely be near the well pump.

Specific Water Shut-Off Valves

If you’re dealing with a localized leak and you can clearly see the source of the problem, you need to learn how to find water shut-off valves for each sink, toilet, or appliance. This also applies when you’re replacing or repairing one of these items or a fixture and don’t want to shut off water to your whole home.

The valves for most home appliances are typically small round or oval handles on a nearby wall that you can turn clockwise to shut off water.

Toilet Valve

Your toilet’s water shut-off valve is located behind the toilet, near the bottom where it connects to the wall.

Washing Machine

Your washing machine likely has two water supply lines: one for hot water and one for cold. You may need to slide your washer out from the wall to access the line, but you’ll be able to turn off one or both by turning the valves clockwise.

Warning: Remember to turn off both valves before starting any plumbing work or if there is a leak.

Sinks and Faucets

You should find two sink valves under each sink in your home — again, one for hot water and one for cold. Remember to turn off both before starting any work or to stop a leak.

Dishwasher

Your dishwasher’s water shut-off valve should be located under your kitchen sink. In some homes, the water supply valve to the sink and dishwasher is the same. But in others, dishwashers have their own valve.

Bathtubs, Showers, and Water Heaters

If your bathtub, shower, or water heater starts leaking, you’ll want to turn off your home’s main water supply and call a plumber right away (or request service if you have a First American home warranty). If you’re a First American home warranty customer, after we confirm coverage, we’ll assign a contractor who’ll set up a diagnostic appointment as quickly as possible.

Main Gas Line Shut-Off Valve

If you ever smell gas or suspect a leak, it’s vital to know how to shut off the gas in your home. Just like the water valve, homes that use gas will have a gas shut-off valve as well. There will be a main gas valve — typically located near your gas meter on the side of your home — and valves near any gas appliances like water heaters, clothes dryers, or stoves. In case of an emergency, it’s always best to shut off the main gas valve to avoid any dangerous situations.

To shut off the main gas valve, turn the valve before the gas meter (nearest to the ground). This is typically a ball-style valve as mentioned above, so turn the valve perpendicular to the pipe to stop the flow of gas.

Pro tip: A large, adjustable wrench may come in handy to turn off your main gas valve.

If you’ve turned off the gas, do not turn it back on yourself. Call your utility company or another qualified professional to turn it back on for you. They will do a pressure test and make sure your system is safe by checking for leaks and verifying that any gas appliances with pilot lights are safely re-lit.

Specific Gas Shut-Off Valves

Just like with water valves, sometimes it can be quicker and more convenient to turn off the gas to one item rather than shutting off the gas to your entire home. This can be necessary when you’re working with gas appliances and systems in your home, to ensure gas doesn’t leak when you disconnect lines. There are several different types of gas shut-off valves in your home, so let’s look at the most common.

Gas Dryer

While some gas dryers have internal gas valves, the one you’re looking for connects the internal gas line in your home to the gas input at the rear of your appliance. These are typically ball shut-off valves made of brass. Dryer gas valves are typically installed next to the dryer’s vent or the washer’s water lines.

Gas Oven, Range, and Stovetop

Most kitchen gas shut-off valves are easy to find. If you have a gas range, you may have to pull it out to access the shut-off valve. If you have a wall oven and cooktop, look in the cabinet beneath your cooktop.

Gas Furnace and Boiler

Some shut-off valves are located near the bottom of furnaces and boilers, but they’re not always this easy to find and you may have to remove the front panel to see them. Most furnaces have designs that place the shut-off valve close to the pilot light, so finding one can help you find the other.

Gas Fireplace

There are two kinds of gas fireplace shut-off valves: ball shut-off valves for standard gas fireplaces and electronic shut-off valves for remote-controlled varieties. Ball valves for fireplaces are accessed by long keys that fit into the valve opening at the side of the mantle, and turning the key turns the ball and closes the valve. Electronic valves are a little tougher to access since you must remove the front paneling to see the valve module. You’ll find the same or very similar valves for your outdoor firepits.

Power Up With Home Warranty Coverage

Don’t have the time or simply don’t want to deal with pesky breakdowns? A home warranty from First American could be right for you. With our home warranty plans, you simply contact us when a covered item breaks. No need to scour through pages of repair companies; getting it fixed is just a call or click away.

Get a free home warranty quote today and find out how First American can power up your budget and keep your home running smoothly.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer’s warranty.