How Do I Shut Off My Water Supply

The benefits of knowing how to shut your water supply off may only be realised when you’re confronted with a plumbing emergency like a burst water pipe or broken tap. The quicker you can turn the mains water supply off; the less damage will be caused to your home.

What is the mains water supply?

The mains water supply is the provision of water to your property supplied by metropolitan and regional water companies. Water travels from large storage dams via large pipework known as ‘water mains’, to smaller reservoirs throughout suburban Melbourne. Smaller pipes then carry water to your property be it residential or commercial.

Why should I know how to turn off my water supply?

Essendon Plumbing Services has been plumbing in Melbourne for more than 33 years and experience tells us that at some point in every home, there will be a situation where you need to temporarily turn your water supply off. The faster you can do this; the less damage will be caused before a plumber can get there to fix it. The first step is knowing where your water meter is located.

Where is my water meter located?

Your water meter is generally located outside at the front of your property near the property boundary, and often near the front garden tap. They are often mounted low to the ground and it is common to find them hidden under garden mulch or amongst garden foliage. It pays to locate your water meter and expose it, that way when you need to find it in an emergency you won’t be wasting valuable time looking for it.

Apartments, units and townhouses will usually have a bank of water meters located in a common area. Occasionally there will be individual isolation valves to each apartment, townhouse or unit and they can be located in ceilings, on walls and in the ground. Your body corporate or strata manager will be able to give you access to it and let you know which meter or isolation valve services your property.

How to turn the water meter off?

Once you’ve located your water meter, you’ll find an isolation valve or stopcock located on the inlet side of the water meter. This will have either a T head type handle that looks like the top of a garden tap or a quarter turn valve that has the provision for a padlock. By turning either of these valves clockwise (to your right) will isolate the water supply to the property. Individual isolation valves operate the same way, turn clockwise (to the right) for off, anti-clockwise (to your left) for on (lefty loosy, righty tighty).

Who should know how to turn a property water supply off?

Knowing how to do this in a plumbing emergency when a tap breaks or a pipe bursts is critical in reducing the amount of damage it causes your home. This will ultimately save you money on damage repair costs.

Share these simple steps with family, friends, neighbours and tenants so everyone can respond efficiently in a plumbing emergency.

Once you’ve turned off your water supply and need a professional plumber to fix your emergency, call us at Essendon Plumbing Services 24/7, 365 days a year on 03 9335 4755 or book online.