How to shut off the water to your house
When a pipe bursts or a fixture overflows, stopping the water is the first thing that limits the damage. Here is how to find and use every shutoff in your home.
Written by Illyrian Plumber
Expert ReviewedLicensed Master Plumbers
NJ Licensed Master Plumber | 10+ Years Experience | Serving Middlesex County, NJ
Quick answer
To shut off all water to your house, find the main shut off valve where the water line enters, usually in the basement near the meter, and turn the wheel fully clockwise or rotate the lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. To stop one fixture, turn the small valve on the supply line behind the toilet, sink, or appliance instead.
Knowing how to shut off the water to your house is the single most useful thing a homeowner can learn before an emergency, because the faster you stop the flow, the less water damage you face. A burst supply line can release several gallons a minute. If you are dealing with an active leak right now and cannot stop it, call our 24/7 emergency plumbers while you work through the steps below.
This guide covers the three levels of shutoff: the single fixture, the water heater, and the main valve for the whole house. Find and tag your main valve today so you are not searching for it during a crisis.
About Illyrian Plumber
Licensed master plumbers serving Middlesex County, NJ since 2010. We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing, water leak detection, whole house repiping, and water heater repair across East Brunswick, Edison, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Monroe Township, South Brunswick, and North Brunswick.
How to shut off the water to one fixture
If the problem is at a single toilet, sink, or appliance, you can stop the water there without cutting off the whole house. Look for a small shutoff valve, called a stop valve, on the supply line.
- Toilet: a football-shaped or lever valve on the wall behind the toilet, on the supply line running to the bottom of the tank.
- Sink: one or two valves under the basin, on the hot and cold supply lines.
- Shower or tub: showers rarely have a local valve, so you usually go to the main. To stop the water to the shower, close the main valve described below.
- Washing machine and water heater: valves on the supply lines feeding the appliance.
Turn the valve clockwise to close. If a stop valve is stuck or leaks when you turn it, which is common on older valves that have not moved in years, stop and close the main instead so you do not snap the valve.
How to find and close the main shut off valve
The main valve stops water to the entire house. There are two types, and both close the same direction in spirit.
Gate valve (round wheel)
Turn the wheel clockwise until it stops. It may take several full turns. If it is stiff, turn steadily rather than forcing it, since old gate valves can break. This style is common in older East Brunswick and Edison homes.
Ball valve (lever handle)
Rotate the lever a quarter turn so it sits across, or perpendicular to, the pipe. When the handle lines up with the pipe the valve is open, and when it crosses the pipe it is closed. Ball valves are faster and more reliable, which is why we install them during a whole house repipe.
After closing the main, open a faucet on the lowest floor to relieve pressure and drain the lines. If you cannot find or turn the interior main, there is also a curb stop in a covered box near the street that the water utility controls. That valve usually needs a special key, so it is a last resort.
Active leak you cannot stop?
If water is still flowing and you cannot close a valve, do not wait. Our licensed emergency plumbers respond fast across Middlesex County, day or night.
How to turn off the water heater
Whenever you shut the main for more than a couple of hours, protect the water heater so it does not run dry while still heating.
- Gas water heater: turn the temperature dial to the pilot or vacation setting. You do not need to relight anything later.
- Electric water heater: switch off its dedicated breaker in the electrical panel so the elements do not burn out in an empty tank.
- To stop a leaking heater: close the cold water supply valve on top of the tank, then shut off the gas or breaker.
If the water heater itself is the source of the leak, our water heater repair team can diagnose whether it needs a part or a full replacement.
How to flush a toilet when the water is off
With the supply off, the tank will not refill, but you can still flush. Pour one to two gallons of water straight into the bowl in a single fast pour. The momentum pushes waste through the trap just like a normal flush. To use the handle instead, fill the tank to the marked line with a bucket and flush as usual.
Keep a few gallons of stored water on hand if a planned shutoff for repairs will last a while, so the household can keep using the bathroom comfortably.
How to turn the water back on safely
Reopen the main valve slowly. Opening it fast sends a pressure surge through the system that can stress joints and dislodge sediment. Then open the highest and farthest faucet first and let it run until the air clears and the stream is steady, working down to the lower fixtures.
Once water is restored, walk the house and check every fixture and the area around the original problem for drips. A slow leak that starts after a repair can hide inside a wall or under a floor. If you suspect water going somewhere you cannot see, our water leak detection service finds it without tearing out drywall. For seasonal protection, our frozen pipe prevention guide explains how to keep a burst from happening in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the main water shut off valve in my house?
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In most New Jersey homes the main shut off valve is on an interior wall where the water line enters, usually in the basement, a crawl space, or a utility closet on the side of the house facing the street. It sits near the water meter. Look for a valve with either a round wheel handle you turn clockwise or a lever handle you rotate a quarter turn until it is perpendicular to the pipe.
How do I flush a toilet when the water is off?
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Pour about one to two gallons of water directly into the toilet bowl in a single fast stream. The weight and speed of the water force the waste through the trap and down the drain, mimicking a normal flush. To refill the tank for a standard flush instead, pour water into the tank up to the fill line, then use the flush handle as usual.
Should I turn off the water heater when I shut off the main water?
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If the water will be off for more than a few hours, turn the water heater to vacation or pilot mode, or switch off its breaker for an electric unit. A water heater that keeps heating without incoming water can overheat or damage the tank. For a quick shutoff to stop a leak, you usually do not need to touch the heater, but never let an empty tank keep heating.
Why do my pipes sputter when I turn the water back on?
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Sputtering and banging is trapped air being pushed out of the lines, which is normal after a shutoff. Turn the main valve back on slowly, then open the highest and farthest faucet in the house first and let it run until the flow is steady and quiet. Work your way down to lower faucets. The air clears within a minute or two.
Plumbing emergency in Middlesex County?
Burst pipe, major leak, or no water? Our 24/7 emergency plumbers serve East Brunswick, Edison, and all of Middlesex County, NJ.