If you’re a homeowner, learning where and how to shut off your home’s main water supply is an important skill you don’t want to learn on the fly. You never know when you may need to shut off the water for emergency repairs, or drain the pipes to help prevent them from freezing in the winter. Knowing where the main water shut-off valve is could save you a lot of time and stress down the road.

Every home is required to have a main water shut-off valve installed inside the home during initial construction. Most valves are located in the basement on an outside wall close to the water heater. Often they are found at the front of the house, or wherever the water line enters the home.

This valve is how you’re able to receive water from the city, town, or municipality in which you live. Turning it off will cut off the water supply to the entire house.

There are also underground shut-off valves installed at the property line. If you are required to shut these off, you’ll need to call a licenced or registered plumber.

Shutting the water off and draining the pipes is easy.

Check out this two minute video from our Good to Know Series for pointers.