Why the main shutoff matters most
Every fixture in a house has its own small valve, but in a real emergency those are often the wrong place to start. A split pipe in a wall, a leak under a slab or a supply line that has blown off its fitting cannot be stopped at a fixture. The main shutoff stops all of it at once.
In most Anaheim homes there are two places to cut the water: a house valve on the line where it enters the building, and a meter valve inside the box near the curb. The house valve is yours to use freely. The meter valve belongs to the water system, but homeowners commonly use it in an emergency when the house valve is missing or seized.
Where to look first
| House type | Usual house valve location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s-70s single-story tract home on a slab | Outside wall near the front hose bib, where the pipe rises out of the ground | Often an old gate valve with a round handle that may be stiff or seized |
| Home with an attached garage | Garage wall on the street side, sometimes near the water heater | Look for a pipe coming up through the slab with a valve above it |
| Newer two-story home | Garage or an exterior wall facing the street | Often a quarter-turn ball valve with a lever handle |
| Condo or townhouse | Inside a utility closet, under a sink or in a shared mechanical room | Ask the HOA or property manager where the unit shutoff is |
| Any house without a findable valve | Meter box at the curb or near the sidewalk | May need a meter key or adjustable wrench |
How to close it
Identify the valve type
A lever handle is a ball valve: turn it a quarter turn so the lever sits across the pipe. A round wheel is a gate or globe valve: turn it clockwise until it stops.
Turn steadily, not hard
Old gate valves can break if forced. If it will not move with firm hand pressure, stop and go to the meter valve instead of reaching for a long wrench.
Confirm the water is off
Open a faucet inside. The flow should slow to a trickle and stop within a minute or so as the line drains.
Relieve the pressure
Open the lowest faucet or an outside hose bib to drain what is left in the pipes, which slows the leak further.
Protect the water heater
If the house will be without water for a while, turn a gas water heater to pilot or off, or switch off the breaker on an electric one, so it does not heat an emptying tank.
When the house valve will not cooperate
- IfThe handle turns but the water keeps runningThenThe valve has failed internally. Close the meter valve and mention the failed valve to the plumber.
- IfThe handle will not move at allThenDo not force it. Use the meter valve and plan to have the house valve replaced.
- IfYou cannot find any house valveThenUse the meter box. Lift the lid carefully, as spiders and wasps often live there.
- IfThe meter valve is also stuck or leakingThenContact the City of Anaheim water utility, since the meter and its valve are part of the city system.
Do this once, before any emergency
- Walk the outside of the house and garage and find the house valve.
- Turn it off and back on once to make sure it moves.
- Find the meter box and see what tool its valve needs.
- Keep a meter key or adjustable wrench somewhere everyone knows.
- Tag the valve so a house sitter or tenant can find it.
- If the valve is seized, ask a licensed plumber about replacing it during a normal visit.
What to ask a plumber about your shutoff
- Is my house valve a gate or a ball valve, and does it still seal?
- Would replacing it with a quarter-turn ball valve make sense?
- Should the fixture valves under my sinks and toilets be replaced too?
- Does this work need a permit? (If unsure, check with the city.)
Common questions
Can I use the meter valve myself?
Homeowners commonly close it in an emergency when the house valve fails. Turn it gently, and contact the city water utility if it is damaged or leaking.
Will closing the main affect the water heater?
The tank stays full but receives no new water. Turning the heater off or to pilot during a long shutoff avoids heating a tank that is being drained.
How often should I test the main shutoff?
Turning it off and on once or twice a year helps keep an older valve from seizing.
General information for Anaheim, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.