When you have an active leak, the first job is not to fix the pipe, it is to stop the water. Every home has shut-off valves: small ones under sinks and behind toilets for a single fixture, and a main valve that cuts water to the whole house. Close the nearest one that stops the flow, then open a low faucet to drain the pressure. Knowing where your main shut-off is before an emergency is the single best thing you can do to limit water damage in a Houston home.
What you'll need
- A water meter key or large adjustable wrench
- A flashlight
- Towels and a bucket
- Your phone (to photograph the damage for insurance)
Recommended parts & supplies
- Water leak alarm / detector, alerts you the moment water pools under a sink or heater
- Pipe repair wrap / clamp, a temporary hold on a small leak until the plumber arrives
- Quarter-turn shut-off valve, replaces an old stuck fixture valve
- Water meter key, opens the meter box and turns the street-side valve
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Step by step
- 1
Try the fixture shut-off first
If the leak is at one spot, under a sink, behind the toilet, or at the water heater, look for a small oval or football-shaped valve on the supply line right there. Turn it clockwise (righty-tighty) until it stops. A quarter-turn lever style just flips 90 degrees. This isolates the problem without cutting water to the whole house.
- 2
Find your main shut-off valve
If there is no local valve or the leak is inside a wall, go to the main. In most Houston slab homes it is where the water line enters the house, near an outdoor hose bib on the street-facing side, in the garage, or in a utility closet. It is a round wheel or a lever valve on the main pipe.
- 3
Close the main valve
Turn a round wheel valve fully clockwise, or flip a lever valve so it sits crosswise (perpendicular) to the pipe. If the wheel is stuck or corroded, do not force it hard enough to snap it, move to the street meter instead.
- 4
Use the street meter if needed
At the curb or edge of the yard is a rectangular in-ground box marked water. Lift the lid and you will see the meter and a valve. Using a water meter key or wrench, turn the valve a quarter turn until the slot is crosswise to the pipe. This cuts all water to the property, your last-resort shut-off.
- 5
Open a low faucet to relieve pressure
Once the water is off, open a faucet on the lowest level of the house (or an outdoor hose bib) and let the lines drain. This drops the pressure so the leak slows to a stop and the pipe is safe to work on or wait on.
- 6
Document the damage and call for help
Take photos and video of the leak and any water damage for your insurance before you clean up. Mop up standing water quickly, Houston humidity grows mold within a day or two, then call a licensed plumber for anything beyond a simple part swap.
When to call a pro
Shutting off the water is pure DIY, but the repair often is not. Call a licensed plumber right away for a burst or split pipe, any leak inside a wall or ceiling, a suspected slab leak (warm spots on the floor, a spiking water bill, the sound of running water with everything off), or if you cannot get the water to stop. If water reached drywall, flooring, or the electrical system, get a pro out fast, hidden moisture and mold spread quickly in our climate.
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How to Shut Off Your Water and Stop a Leak Fast, FAQ
Where is my main water shut-off valve?
Which way do I turn a water valve to shut it off?
What should I do first when a pipe bursts?
Plumbing & Slab Leak Repair services in Houston
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