Why map your valves
Most households know where the kitchen sink stops are and little else. A slab leak needs a different valve: the main shutoff, and sometimes the water heater inlet. Visitors, house sitters, older children and anyone else who might be home alone should be able to find them from a sheet of paper.
Fill this in once, walk it with everyone who lives there, and update it after any plumbing work that moves or replaces a valve.
Valve map
| Valve | Location | Type (lever or wheel) | Tested on | Works smoothly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main house shutoff | ||||
| Pressure regulator (if present) | ||||
| Water heater cold inlet | ||||
| Irrigation supply valve | ||||
| Kitchen sink stops | ||||
| Bathroom stops (each bath) | ||||
| Washing machine valves | ||||
| Refrigerator ice maker line | ||||
| Gas shutoff at meter (do not test) |
Walk the house
- Start at the meter.Find the meter box near the street, then follow the likely path of the line toward the house to find where it enters.
- Check the front and garage.Look along the foundation near hose bibs and on garage walls for the main valve and regulator.
- Find the water heater valves.Note the cold inlet valve on the supply pipe to the tank or tankless unit.
- Trace outdoor branches.Find the irrigation supply valve and any backflow device on the irrigation line.
- Test gently.Close and reopen each water valve once. Note any that are stiff, drip at the stem, or will not fully close.
- Label and post.Tag valves with a durable label and tape this sheet inside a kitchen cabinet or by the garage door.
Fix list from your walk
Write down anything that needs attention and mention it at your next plumber visit.
- Main valve stiff, leaking at the stem, or hard to reach
- No main valve found at all
- Fixture stops that do not fully close
- Water heater without an accessible inlet valve
- Unlabeled valves with unknown purposes
Common questions
Should a stiff main valve be replaced?
If it will not reliably close, it is worth replacing, often with a quarter-turn ball valve. That is plumbing work; ask a licensed plumber.
Who should know where the main shutoff is?
Every adult in the house and anyone who stays there when you are away, such as a house sitter.
Can I draw a sketch instead of filling in the table?
A simple floor plan sketch with valve locations marked works well alongside the table. Use whatever someone else could follow in a hurry.
General information for Anaheim Hills, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.