At the top of every homeowner’s DIY plumbing list is knowing how to turn the water on and off to your house as well as the individual plumbing fixtures in it. Turning off the water is the first step in stopping a leak or making other plumbing repairs, so it’s important locate the main water shutoff valve to your home now before you need it.
Turning Off All the Water in Your House
To turn off all the water to your house, locate the main water shutoff valve, which is usually found at the water meter. Most water meters are buried in the ground near the street and have a concrete cover, though some may be mounted on the side of the house.
Water meter.
If you can’t find the water meter, call your local utility company and ask for help locating it. Once you’ve found the meter, remove the cover, and turn the shutoff valve 90 degrees with a water meter cutoff key to turn off all the water in your house. In a pinch you may be able to turn the valve with an adjustable wrench if you can't find a cutoff key.
Some houses may also have a secondary main shutoff valve located where the water main enters the house that can be used to turn off all the water in your home.
Turning Off the Water at Plumbing Fixtures
Shutoff valve under sink.
In many cases you don’t have to turn off all the water to the house to repair a plumbing fixture, such as a sink faucet or toilet. Instead, you can close the shutoff valve located below the fixture by turning it clockwise to turn off the water to just that fixture.
Bathtubs and showers may not have shutoff valves, and if they do they can be harder to find. Look for access in the wall or closet that backs up to the tub or shower to see if the water lines have shutoff valves. If a plumbing fixture doesn’t have a shutoff valve, you’ll need to turn off all the water to the house before repairing it.
Plumbing Fix #2: How to Turn Off a Water Heater (Geyser)
It’s important to know how to turn off your hot water heater in case it develops a leak, overheats, if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, or to drain it.
There are two steps involved in turning off a water heater:
Turning Off Gas or Electricity to Water Heater: On gas hot water heaters, turn the gas supply knob on the water heater to the off position. For electric water heaters, flip the circuit breaker or remove the fuse that powers the water heater.
Turning Off Water to Water Heater: To turn off the water to a hot water heater, turn the shutoff valve on the cold water supply pipe going into the hot water heater clockwise.
Plumbing Fix #3: How to Fix a Leaky Pipe
Depending on the type of plumbing pipe and how bad the damage is, you may be able to repair a leak in a pipe with epoxy putty or a pipe repair clamp, which are available at home centers or plumbing supply stores. If the damage is more severe, the pipe itself may need to be replaced.
To repair a leak in a pipe with epoxy putty:
Find the location of the leak.
Turn off the main water supply..
Dry the pipe with a towel.
Knead the two-
Apply the putty around the pipe, and allow it to set.
Turn the water back on, and check the pipe for leaks.
To repair a leak in a pipe with a pipe repair clamp:
Find the location of the leak.
Turn off the main water supply.
Loosen the screws on the pipe repair clamp.
Place the repair clamp around the pipe.
Tighten the screws so the rubber gasket on the clamp is against the leak.
Plumbing Fix #4: How to Stop a Toilet from Running
Stopping a toilet from running is usually a fairly easy fix, so don’t call your local plumbers before trying to repair it yourself. A running toilet is usually caused by either the water level in the tank being set too high or a worn out rubber flapper between the tank and bowl.
To adjust the water level in the toilet tank:
Remove the lid from the toilet tank.
Turn the adjustment screw or slide the rod to lower the float in the tank.
Flush the toilet, and allow it to refill.
Check tank water level to make sure it's below the top of the overflow tube.
If the water level is still too high, continue to adjust the float height as needed.
To replace a toilet tank flapper:
Turn off the shutoff valve below the toilet by turning it clockwise.
Flush the toilet to remove the water in the tank.
Remove the rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank.
Remove the flapper chain from the tank handle rod.
Wipe off the rim of the drain at the bottom of the tank.
Install a new rubber flapper.
Attach the new flapper chain to the tank handle rod.
Turn the water to the toilet back on.
Allow the tank to fill up and check to make sure the toilet stops running.
Adjust the flapper valve chain on the handle as needed so the toilet flushes easily.
Turn the water back on, and check the pipe for leaks.
Plumbing Fix #5: How to Fix a Dripping Faucet (Mixer)
If you're sick of the constant sound of a dripping faucet, take control of the situation and repair it yourself! Depending on the type of faucet you have, the process of fixing a leaky faucet is fairly easy.
Repairing Leaking Compression Faucets (Mixer):
These older type faucets use a rubber washer to stop the flow of water, which can wear out over time.
To replace the washer on a compression faucet (mixer):
Turn off the water to the faucet at the shutoff valve.
Remove the decorative cap on the faucet handle.
Remove the screw under the cover in the faucet handle.
Pull the faucet handle off to expose the valve.
Use a deep socket wrench to remove the valve from the faucet.
Remove the screw holding the washer on the end of the valve.
Replace the washer with a new one of the same size.
Apply Teflon plumber’s tape to the valve threads.
Screw the valve back in the faucet.
Tighten the valve with the wrench, being careful not to over tighten it.
Put the handle and screw back on the valve.
Press the decorative cover back on the end of the handle.
Turn the shutoff valve on, and check the faucet for leaks.
Repairing Leaking Cartridge or Ball Faucets:
These types of valves are found on newer, single lever faucets. Unlike compression faucets, cartridge and ball faucets have more parts, making them harder to repair.
Cartridge Faucets: Pry off the decorative fixture, remove the handle, and replace the entire valve cartridge.
Ball Type Faucets: Ball type faucets have many parts, so it’s often easier to buy a repair kit instead of trying to replace one part. Purchase a repair kit that fits your faucet at a home center or plumbing supply store, and follow the instructions included.
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