Homeowner guides
How to Find Your Main Water Shutoff Valve
Updated · Written by the SteadWell team
Short answerThe main shutoff is usually on the water line where it enters the house: in the crawl space or basement near the front wall, in the garage, or near the water heater. There's a second valve at the meter by the street.
Where to look first
Find the side of the house that faces the water meter — usually the street side. The supply line runs straight from the meter to that wall.
- Crawl-space homes: just inside the crawl-space access, on the pipe coming through the foundation
- Slab homes: garage wall, utility closet, or near the water heater
- Basement homes: front basement wall, near the floor
Test it before you need it
Old gate valves seize. Turn the valve off and on once a year. If it won't close fully or starts leaking at the stem, have it replaced with a quarter-turn ball valve — it's a small job that pays off the day a pipe bursts.
The curb valve
The meter box by the street has a valve too. It usually needs a meter key and belongs to the water utility, but in an emergency it will stop the water to the whole property.
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site assessment. Read our editorial standards.