Published
Three places water can be shut off
Fixture valves
Under sinks, behind toilets, behind the washer, behind the refrigerator for the ice maker, and on the cold line to the water heater. Close these for a leak at one fixture and keep the rest of the house running.
The main house valve
Shuts off water to the whole house. In many Texas slab homes it is outside near where the line enters, often in a small box in the ground near the foundation, or inside a garage or utility area. Some older homes have it near the front hose bib, and some have none at all.
The meter box
At the street, sidewalk or alley. The utility owns the meter, and the valve on the street side is for utility use and often needs a special key. If your house has no working main valve, ask a plumber to install one on your side of the meter.
Where to look in a typical Laredo home
| House type | Main shutoff often found | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Slab-on-grade house | In a small ground box between the meter and the foundation, or on a pipe rising out of the ground near the front wall | Garage wall where the line enters, near the water heater |
| Pier-and-beam or raised older house | Under the house where the line comes up through the floor, or outside near the front | Near a front hose bib |
| Townhome or duplex | Inside a utility closet or near the water heater | Ask the landlord or association; units sometimes share a meter |
| Apartment | Often in a closet or under the kitchen sink for the unit, or controlled by management | Ask management before you need it |
Follow the pipe. The line from the meter usually runs straight toward the nearest wall of the house. The main valve is somewhere along that path, often within a few feet of the foundation.
Kinds of valves and how to close them
Ball valve (lever handle)
A quarter turn closes it. When the lever is across the pipe, it is closed; when it lines up with the pipe, it is open. These are the easiest to use in an emergency.
Gate valve (round wheel handle)
Turn clockwise several full turns until it stops. Old gate valves often do not seal completely and can break if forced, so turn them gently.
Valve in a ground box
Lift the lid carefully, clear any dirt, and look for the handle. Some need a long-handled valve key, sold at hardware stores, to reach the valve without kneeling in the box.
Test them once a year
- Close slowly. Turn each valve gently. Old valves can break if forced.
- Open a faucet. Confirm water stops. A slow trickle means the valve is not sealing completely.
- Reopen slowly. Turn the valve back on and check for drips at the stem. A small leak at the stem can often be stopped by snugging the packing nut a little.
- Replace problem valves. If a valve will not close fully or leaks, have a plumber replace it with a quarter-turn ball valve.
The water heater
A leaking water heater needs two things turned off: the cold water supply at the top of the tank, and its energy source. For gas, turn the control to Off or Pilot. For electric, switch off its breaker. Never leave an electric water heater powered with the water off; the elements can burn out.
If the house main is closed for more than a short repair, set the water heater to Pilot or Vacation, or switch it off, until the water is back on and the tank has refilled.
Freezes
Hard freezes are rare in Laredo, but they happen, and the February 2021 winter storm burst pipes across Texas. Before a freeze, cover outdoor faucets, insulate exposed pipes, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, and let a faucet drip. Protect any above-ground backflow assembly on a sprinkler system with an insulated cover; under city rules, the owner is responsible for protecting it from freezing.
If a pipe bursts, close the main valve first, then call. A pipe that froze may not leak until it thaws, so check walls, ceilings and the garage the day temperatures rise.
Make a simple plan
- Tag the main valve and take a phone photo of its location
- Keep a valve key or the right tool where everyone can find it
- Show every adult in the house how to close the main
- Save a plumber’s number in your phone
- Keep a flashlight, towels and a bucket near the water heater
- Note where the electrical panel is, and which breaker controls the water heater
If you rent, ask your landlord where the shutoffs are when you move in, and whether you are allowed to use them. Many leases expect tenants to stop the water first and report the leak right away.
Sprinklers, softeners and other branches
Some equipment has its own valve, and knowing it saves you from shutting off the whole house. Irrigation systems usually have a shutoff near the backflow assembly; closing it, along with turning the controller off, stops a broken sprinkler line without affecting the house. Water softeners and whole-house filters often have a bypass valve that lets water flow around them if the unit leaks. Pool and fountain fill lines may have their own valve too.
Walk the outside of the house once and note each of these. A strip of tape and a label on each valve takes a minute and makes sense to anyone in the household at two in the morning. Add the location of the electrical panel and the gas meter to the same note, and share it with anyone who house-sits for you.
When there is no main valve
Some older homes in central Laredo were built without a house-side shutoff, or the original valve was buried, paved over or broken. Without one, the only way to stop a burst pipe is the utility valve at the meter, which may need a special key and is not meant for routine use. Installing a ball valve where the line enters the house is a small job that makes every future emergency easier. Ask about it during any other plumbing visit, or when a yard line is being repaired.
Sources
Official and primary sources used on this page. Rules change, so check the source before acting on a detail.