How to shut off your water in an emergency (NoVA guide)

Your main water shutoff is usually where the water line enters the house, on the basement or crawl-space wall that faces the street. A lever handle closes with a quarter turn; a round handle closes clockwise until snug.

Most homeowners don't know where their main shutoff is until the day they need it. A burst supply line can pour out many gallons a minute, so a few minutes of searching can mean a flooded room. Here's where to look, how each type of valve works, and what to do first.

Where to find your main water shutoff valve

Check these spots:

• On the foundation wall nearest the street, right where the pipe comes through
• Elsewhere in the basement or crawl space, if the line was rerouted during a renovation
• Near the water heater, though the valve there often controls only the heater, not the whole house

The exact spot depends on when your home was built, which is one more reason to find yours before there's water on the floor.

Ball valve vs. gate valve: how to turn each

Ball valve (newer homes and recent replacements): a lever handle. In line with the pipe means open. Turn it a quarter turn so the handle sits crosswise to the pipe. That's off. These are reliable and easy to operate in an emergency.

Gate valve (older homes and many that have never had the main replaced): a round handle that you turn clockwise several times until it's snug.

The problem with gate valves is that they seize up when they aren't used. We've responded to emergencies where homeowners couldn't turn their gate valve because it hadn't moved in years. The metal corrodes and the valve won't budge.

If the valve is hard to turn or won't move, don't force it. A seized valve can break, and then you have a bigger emergency.

If your home was built before 1990, ask us to check your main shutoff on your next service visit. Many of these homes still have original plumbing components that haven't been serviced in decades. If it's a gate valve, we'll recommend swapping it for a ball valve. It's a small upgrade that could save your home.

Individual fixture shutoffs

Smaller shutoff valves can stop water to one fixture while the rest of the house keeps running:

• Under every sink (hot and cold lines)
• Behind every toilet
• At the water heater (cold water inlet)
• Inside the house for outdoor hose bibs, often in the basement

These come in handy for leak and pipe repairs that don't call for shutting down the whole house. Plenty of homeowners know their main shutoff but have never noticed the smaller ones.

What to do when a pipe bursts

Follow these steps in order:

1. Shut off the main water at the valve you've already located.

2. Turn off electricity to any flooded areas, if it's safe to do so.

3. Call us for emergency plumbing at (703) 508-3088.

4. Photograph the damage for your insurance company.

5. Remove standing water if it's safe and possible.

Once the water is off, leave the pipe to us. A supply line is under constant pressure, so the repair needs the right materials and fittings to hold. That's why burst pipe repair isn't a DIY job.

We've seen burst pipes in NoVA homes ruin finished basements, buckle hardwood floors, and leave drywall that has to come out. The homeowners who keep the damage small are the ones who shut the water off right away and call for help.

Emergency preparedness checklist

• Locate your main water shutoff valve
• Show every adult in the house where it is
• Keep a flashlight near the shutoff
• Know whether yours is a gate valve or a ball valve

When a water emergency does happen, Pioneer Plumbers responds quickly throughout Northern Virginia. Find your shutoff today, and save (703) 508-3088 in your phone so it's there the moment you need it.