When a pipe bursts, a toilet overflows, or your water heater starts leaking, every minute counts. Knowing exactly how to shut off your home’s water can prevent costly damage and stress. This clear, step-by-step guide from A1 Best Plumbing—your trusted Long Beach Plumbing experts—explains where to find your shutoff valves, how to use them safely, and what to do if they’re stuck or missing.
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Shut Off Your Water
- For a localized issue (toilet, sink, dishwasher): Turn the small “angle stop” valve clockwise at the fixture.
- For whole-home emergencies:
- Interior main shutoff: Look in the garage, water heater closet, or along the front interior wall. Turn the handle clockwise (gate valve) or a quarter-turn so the lever is perpendicular to the pipe (ball valve).
- At the water meter (street/sidewalk box): Open the meter lid and turn the customer-side valve a quarter-turn to OFF. If only the city curb stop is present, proceed with caution or call our Long Beach Plumbing experts for immediate help.
- If a valve won’t budge or is corroded: Don’t force it—call A1 Best Plumbing. Forcing stuck valves can snap stems and worsen leaks.
Know Your Shutoff Valves (and Where to Find Them)
- Whole-home main (customer side):
- Typical locations in Long Beach: inside the garage near the water heater, on the wall facing the street, in a ground box near the front hose bib, or in a covered closet for older bungalows.
- Types:
- Ball valve (best): Lever handle; a quarter-turn shuts water off.
- Gate valve (older): Round wheel; requires multiple turns clockwise. More prone to sticking.
- Water meter box (street/sidewalk):
- A rectangular concrete or plastic lid marked “Water.” Lift carefully—there may be debris or insects.
- Inside you may see:
- A dial/AMR meter.
- A small customer shutoff valve (CSOV) you can operate.
- The city’s curb stop. Some cities restrict residents from operating this—when in doubt, call A1 Best Plumbing or the utility.
- Fixture shutoffs (angle stops):
- Under sinks: one for cold, one for hot—turn clockwise to close.
- Toilet: small valve on the wall/floor to the left of the tank—turn clockwise.
- Dishwasher: usually shares the hot angle stop under the kitchen sink.
- Washing machine: two valves (hot and cold)—turn both clockwise.
- Water heater shutoff:
- The cold water inlet on top of the tank (usually marked blue) stops new water from entering.
- For electric units, switch off the breaker if the tank is leaking. For gas, set the gas control to “Pilot” or “Off” if needed and safe to do so.
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts recommend locating and testing these valves before an emergency. Tag them so every household member knows what to turn.
Step-by-Step: Shutting Off the Whole House Inside
- Find the main valve
- Follow the line from your front hose bib into the home or look near the water heater. In slab homes, it often sits on the front side of the house; in garages, near the water heater or softener.
- Identify the valve type
- Ball valve: Lever parallel to the pipe = ON; perpendicular = OFF.
- Gate valve: Round wheel; turn clockwise until snug. Do not overtighten.
- Turn off slowly and check
- Turn the valve to OFF.
- Open a faucet inside (preferably a tub) to relieve pressure. Flow should stop within seconds.
- Verify
- Confirm no water is running at sinks, showers, or toilets. If water still flows, you may need to turn off at the meter box.
If the valve is frozen, leaks at the stem, or the handle crumbles, stop and call A1 Best Plumbing. Forcing old gate valves can cause a bigger flood.
Step-by-Step: Shutting Off Water at the Meter
- Gather basics
- Gloves, flashlight, large flat screwdriver, and ideally a meter key or adjustable wrench.
- Open the lid carefully
- Pry the lid gently. Watch for insects or sharp edges.
- Identify the shutoff
- Look for a small valve on the customer side of the meter. Many are quarter-turn with a rectangular tab.
- The slot or tab aligns with the pipe when ON; turn it so it’s perpendicular to the pipe to go OFF.
- Turn and verify
- Turn the valve a quarter-turn to OFF.
- Check an indoor faucet. If water still runs, the curb stop might be the only shutoff. Because curb stops are usually on city property, it’s best to call our Long Beach Plumbing experts or the utility for assistance.
Tip: If you don’t have a customer shutoff at the meter, A1 Best Plumbing can install a reliable, code-compliant ball valve on your side of the line for quick future shutoffs.
Turning Off Just the Fixture (When It’s Not a Whole-Home Emergency)
- Toilet overflowing: Turn the valve at the wall clockwise. Remove the tank lid and lift the flapper to stop the flow temporarily if needed.
- Leaking faucet: Close the hot and cold angle stops under the sink.
- Dishwasher leak: Close the hot angle stop under the kitchen sink.
- Washing machine hose burst: Turn both hot and cold valves off; consider upgrading to braided stainless hoses afterward.
Localized shutoffs minimize disruption while you wait for repair. If valves are stuck or leak at the stem when turned, call A1 Best Plumbing to replace them with modern quarter-turn stops.
Special Situations Our Long Beach Plumbing Experts See Often
- Older gate valves that don’t fully seal: They may “feel” off but still allow a trickle. We recommend upgrading to quarter-turn ball valves for reliability and speed.
- Corroded or painted-over valves: Don’t force them. A snapped stem can leave you without control.
- Slab leaks: Water may appear at floors or along the baseboards. Shut off the main and call us—our team specializes in pressure testing and reroutes.
- Multi-unit/condos: Shared meters and shutoffs are common. Contact property management or our Long Beach Plumbing experts for guidance to avoid shutting off neighbors inadvertently.
- Irrigation systems: There’s often a separate shutoff near the backflow preventer in the front yard. Turn the handle perpendicular to the pipe to stop irrigation water.
After You Shut the Water Off
- Open a faucet at the highest and lowest points to relieve pressure and drain lines.
- Flush toilets once to empty tanks.
- Take photos of the issue for insurance.
- Mop or extract standing water to reduce damage.
- Call A1 Best Plumbing for repair, cleanup guidance, and to restore service safely.
Prevention: Get Ready Before the Next Emergency
- Label and test valves annually. Exercise them gently to prevent seizing.
- Upgrade old gate valves to quarter-turn ball valves.
- Install a customer-side shutoff at the meter if you don’t have one.
- Add a pressure regulator (PRV) if your home runs above 80 PSI—high pressure accelerates leaks.
- Consider smart leak detectors and automatic shutoff valves for whole-home protection.
Our Long Beach Plumbing experts can assess your system, recommend upgrades, and provide a simple valve map for your household.
When to Call A1 Best Plumbing
- You can’t find the main shutoff or it won’t turn.
- The valve is corroded, leaks at the stem, or breaks while turning.
- You need a new main valve, PRV, or customer shutoff installed.
- You suspect a slab leak, burst pipe, or water heater tank failure.
- You want a professional, code-compliant solution with a clear warranty.
A1 Best Plumbing is standing by to help Long Beach homeowners shut off water quickly, make permanent repairs, and upgrade aging valves so the next emergency is simpler and safer to handle.
Your Local, Reliable Solution
Knowing how to turn the water off at your house can save thousands in damage. When in doubt—or if any valve is stuck—call A1 Best Plumbing. Our Long Beach Plumbing experts arrive fast, locate the correct shutoff, and make reliable repairs so you can get your home back to normal with confidence. Reach out today for friendly, professional service you can trust.