How to turn the water off to your house

Knowing how to turn off the water in your home is one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge you can have as a Canadian homeowner. Water damage can be disastrous, causing expensive repairs and disruption to your day-to-day life. A quick response can be the difference between minor repairs and tens of thousands in damage throughout your home.

In reality, there are several scenarios where knowing where your main water shut-off valve is located and how to turn it off is necessary--from emergency leaks, failing appliances, frozen pipes, to plumbing system repairs, renovations, and extended vacations.

Water damage causes millions of damage each year

In July 2024, torrential rainfall in Toronto caused $940 million in damages. During the same year, approximately 273,000 insurance claims were submitted due to severe weather, indicating an 188% surge above the historical average. Many of these claims involved water-related damage, which could have been avoided if the water supply had been turned off swiftly in homes.

To ensure you prevent avoidable water damage in your home, we'll guide you through the steps, offer troubleshooting advice, and provide ongoing maintenance tips to protect your home from water damage below.

Step-By-Step: How to find and shut off your main water supply

There are two main types found in residential homes:

Ball Valve

Ball valves have a lever-style handle. To turn off the water with this type of shutoff valve, turn the valve clockwise by 90 degrees.

Gate Valve

Gate valves have a circular handle that is attached via a stem to the body of the valve. To shut off this main water valve, you'll need to turn the handle clockwise numerous times until it is fully closed off.

Where to look for your main water shut-off valve

Generally speaking, we recommend checking the following areas of your home when trying to locate the water shut-off valve:

• Single-Family Homes: Search near the area where your main water line enters your home. This could be in your basement, a utility room, or a crawl space.
• Condos: Your main water shut-off valve may be located behind an access panel in a hallway, in your laundry room, bathroom, or under your kitchen sink.
• Townhouse: Check near the front of your home; the main water shut-off valve should be located in a utility closet. It may also be located near the front curb of your home on an outside wall or front wall.

How to turn off your main water shutoff valve

• Turn your ball valve 90 degrees clockwise.
• Turn your gate valve fully clockwise. Once turned off, run a faucet to confirm no water flows from it.

Troubleshooting stuck main water valves

If your main water shutoff valves are stuck:

1. Spray the valve with lubricant and wait a couple of minutes.
2. Gently tap the main shutoff valve using a rubber mallet to loosen any corrosion.

If it is still stuck, you will need to call a professional plumber to your home as soon as possible, as outdated valves can detach completely under high water pressure, causing significant damage to your home.

How to shut off specific appliances and features in your home

Rather than shutting off the entire plumbing system in your house, there will be times when you only need to stop the water supply to certain appliances and plumbing fixtures. Here's how you can do so:

• Sinks and Faucets: Look underneath your sink. You'll notice there are two valves, one for hot water and one for cold water. Turn both of the valves clockwise to shut them off.
• Toilets: Near the base of your toilets, you'll notice a shutoff valve extending from the wall. Turn the valve clockwise until it is tight.
• Washing Machines: Locate the hot and cold lines behind your washing machine. Turn both of the water shut-off valves clockwise.
• Water Heaters: The cold waterline should be located on top of your hot water heater. Turn the handle clockwise. If you have a tankless heater, the shutoff valve should be closer to the floor, beside the unit.
• Outdoor Hoses and Sprinkler Systems: Any exterior shutoff valves should be located in your basement or crawl space. We recommend turning off exterior water lines in late fall to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting during the winter.

What to do after turning your main water lines off

Once you've turned off the water supply in your home, there are a couple more steps you need to take to prevent plumbing leaks and other problems in your home:

Drain your pipes

Although you've turned your water supply off, water will still remain in your plumbing system. To drain it, open the faucets on the top floors of your house and work your way down. This will allow gravity to drain the water out. Flush toilets are designed to drain standing water.

Inspect your home for feaks

Once the water is drained from your plumbing system, inspect any fixtures, appliances, and exposed water lines to detect potential leaks. Don't forget to look for signs of water damage as well.

Restoring water

When restoring the water supply in your house, turn on a faucet and slowly turn the main water shutoff valve back on. This will prevent pressure buildup. You may see your water splutter from your fixtures for a couple of seconds. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about.

When to call a licensed plumber

Notice the following? Call a plumber immediately for assistance:

• Leaking main shutoff valve.
• Pipes won't drain or refill properly.
• Your water shutoff valve has visible damage.

Prevention tips: Keep your water shutoff valves working correctly

Regular maintenance on your entire system and valves can help you avoid damage and other plumbing issues down the line. Here's what you need to do:

• Test your water valves: Make it a habit to test your main water shut-off valve every 6 months. If the valve is stiff, add some lubricant to it. If you notice corrosion, you may need to have it replaced.
• Label your valves: To ensure you know which valve is which, label each valve to save time in an emergency.
• Install a smart leak detection system: These systems use sensors to detect water leaks in real-time by sending an alert to your cell phone. With Canadian home insurance premiums increasing 7.66% from January 2023 to January 2024, prevention of water-related damages is essential in protecting your finances from expensive repairs.
• Keep Your home warm: Canadian winters can wreak havoc on your home and plumbing system. To prevent burst pipes, keep your home at a consistent, warm temperature during the wintertime.

Know the signs of water-related damage in your house

Not all homeowners know what to look for when it comes to water-related damage in their home until it's too late and the damage is done. Here's what you need to look out for regularly:

• Visible stains on your home’s walls or ceilings, usually beige or yellow, may appear in a ring pattern.
• Flaking, peeling, or bubbling paint, caused by excess moisture in the walls.
• Drywall that is soft, swollen, or warped.
• You often hear the sound of running water when no one is using the water.
• Musty or strange smells.
• Mould that is green, black, or speckled.

How BrokerLink can help

Don't wait for water pipes to burst, sewage backup to occur, or a loose connection to cause damage to your home. With severe weather risks and water damage costs on the rise, planning ahead and having the right home insurance coverage in place can save you thousands of dollars later down the road.

Since 1991, BrokerLink has helped Canadian homeowners find affordable home insurance. With access to numerous policies like Condo Insurance, Tenant and Renters Insurance, Vacation Property & Cottage Insurance, and flood insurance coverage from some of Canada's top insurance providers, our team of experienced brokers can help you customize a plan to meet your needs.

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