How to Shut Off Your Home Water Supply in an Emergency

Plumbing emergencies can happen without any warning. Your emergency shut-off valve is used to quickly shut off your home’s water supply in the event of a leak, burst pipe, or malfunction with a fixture or appliance. Familiarizing yourself with your Massachusetts home’s main water shut-off valve is a crucial step to help protect your home from further damage that can occur during a plumbing emergency. Keep reading this blog from McMahon Plumbing & Heating to learn how to swiftly shut off your water supply.

Locating Your Main Water Supply Valve

When dealing with a plumbing issue, every second counts. That’s why locating your home’s water supply shut-off valve before an emergency is crucial for avoiding a disastrous plumbing scenario. If you’re unsure where to locate your home’s water supply valve, look in these areas:

  • Check outside your home: Outside, you may find a metal box located near the curb or on the side of your property containing your main water supply valve. This is the spot where the main water line enters your home. Use this valve to shut off your home’s water supply.
  • Look in your basement, utility room, laundry room, or under your kitchen sink.
  • Inspect underneath your water heater.
  • Don’t forget to double-check your garage and closets: Emergency shut-off water valves can be located anywhere in the home, so don’t neglect these areas if you have yet to locate your water shut-off valve.

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Shutting Off Your MA Home Water Supply

Once you locate your water supply valve, simply turn the wheel or handle of the valve to the right to tighten it.* This will close the valve and cut off the water supply to your home. Afterward, open all of the faucets in your home to help drain the remaining water in the pipes.

The next most important step is to contact your local plumbing experts at McMahon to help repair your plumbing issue. We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services to protect you and your home during unfortunate plumbing emergencies such as burst pipes, clogged drains, and more. Once you turn off your water supply, don’t hesitate to call us right away at (617) 364-2200 for assistance.

*If you need to reopen your water supply valve, turn the handle to the left.

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