When water starts leaking from a pipe or water heater, or if a fire sprinkler is triggered, it is important to act fast and prevent extensive water damage from occurring. The best way to do this is to plan ahead by locating and knowing how to shut off your water main.

When a pipe is leaking, even if it is just a small crack, it can gush out far more water than you might expect. According to research by Water Damage Defense, 250 gallons of water can leak out of a 1/8th of an inch crack every day. For reference, 1/8th of an inch is equivalent to half of the width of a pencil’s eraser. With larger cracks, the amount of water leaked per day increases significantly. If triggered, a typical fire sprinkler can spray out 15 to 40 gallons per minute until they are shut off. While fire sprinklers are useful and should be left on while a fire is still burning, if the sprinkler is triggered accidentally or the fire is fully extinguished, shut off the water main to turn off the sprinklers and prevent excessive water damage from occurring in your home.

This volume of water, especially if left unchecked, can cause a great deal of damage to your home. It not only can soak carpets and warp hardwood flooring, but also wick up your drywall and cause your walls to become soft. If not dried very promptly, mold will start to grow in these affected areas and inside walls. The less water that leaks or gets sprayed into your home, the better and easier it will be to restore your home to its pre-loss condition.

It is essential to know where and how to access your water main in case of an emergency. There are different types of water mains depending on the home or building, but for a typical home, it is located on the edge of your property and near the curb. There is usually a rectangular box with a lid that says “Water.” Sometimes, this lid can be opened with a screwdriver over even just your hands, but if not, you can open it using a water shutoff key.

Water shutoff keys are available at most major hardware stores, and if your water main requires one, it is wise to have one in your toolbox. Once the lid is removed, locate the shutoff valve, which may have gotten hidden under dirt or leaves. To shut off the water, turn the valve clockwise 1/4 of the way around. Some water mains, like the one in this picture, may require an additional tool to turn the valve. If you have a water shutoff key, this is often part of the tool. Turning this valve will shut off the water to any leaking pipes or fire sprinklers.

If it is only your water heater that is leaking, you can shut off the water supply line to the water heater directly rather than shutting off the water main. Look for the water supply inlet pipe, which is typically running into the top of the water heater from the wall. There are usually two similar-looking pipes, but the water inlet will be the only one with a valve. Similar to the water main, you turn the valve clockwise until the valve is perpendicular to the pipe and this shuts off the water supply to the water heater.

We hope that you never experience a broken pipe, water heater, or accidentally trigger a fire sprinkler, but if it happens, we hope that you can use this information to mitigate the severity of the water damage. If water damage occurs in your home or building, give us a call at 844-DRY-KING for 24/7 Emergency services. We will be happy to inspect the damage and help restore your building back to its pre-loss condition.