Step-By-Step Guide to Turn Off the Water to My Home

Ever had a water leak or a running tap but not know how to turn the water off to your home?

This is an emergency scenario when know how to turn off the water to your house is beneficial. The quicker you can turn off the water supply; the less damage will be caused to your home.

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.

In this blog, we take you through the steps needed to properly turn off the water to your home and prevent further damage from occurring.

Step 1: Know where your water meter is located

A water meter in a house is generally located at the front of your property near the boundary, and often near the 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.

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, which can be found in ceilings, on walls and in the ground.

Step 2: Know how to turn the water off

• Now 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
• Turn either of these valves clockwise - to your right. This will turn off the water supply to your home
• Individual isolation valves operate the same way, turn clockwise for off - to the right

Step 3: Know how to turn the water back on

Whether you have an isolation valve, stopcock, T head or quarter turn valve, turning them anti-clockwise – to the left – will turn the water to your home back on.

Step 4: Share your knowledge with others who live in your home

Sharing and/or teaching these simple steps to family, friends, neighbours, and tenants is important because it means anyone can respond efficiently in a plumbing emergency.

This means that if a tap breaks or a burst pipe occurs, your household can act quickly and reduce the amount of damage it causes your home. Ultimately saving you time and money.

Step 5: Contact your local plumber to repair the problem

Once you’ve turned off your water, it’s time to call a local professional plumber to fix your emergency. Call us at Essendon Plumbing Services 24/7, 365 days a year on 1300 193 298 or book online.