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Find both shutoffs before you need them. The main water valve is usually where the service pipe enters the home; the gas service valve is commonly beside the gas meter. Water emergencies generally call for closing the home’s valve and calling a plumber. A suspected gas leak is first an evacuation and emergency-call situation, and gas service must be restored only by the utility or another qualified professional.
Valve layouts differ by house, meter and utility territory. Use the steps below to identify your installation safely, mark each control and confirm your local utility’s instructions before an emergency.
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The water main stops water entering the house. Closing it limits damage from a burst supply line, failed appliance hose or other plumbing failure, but it does not drain the water already inside pipes. The gas service shutoff stops fuel entering the building; it does not make an existing gas cloud safe. Gas requires additional evacuation, ignition-control and professional-restoration rules.
| Question | Main water shutoff | Gas service shutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Typical location | Where the incoming water line enters, often a basement, garage, utility room or exterior wall near the meter | Adjacent to the gas meter, outside or in a meter cabinet |
| Common control | Wheel-style gate valve or lever-style ball valve | Quarter-turn meter valve; exact design varies by utility and meter |
| Tool | Usually operated by hand; never force a seized valve | Some installations require an appropriate adjustable or non-sparking wrench specified by the utility |
| Emergency action | Close if safely accessible, then call a plumber | Evacuate and call from a safe location; shut the valve only when safe and consistent with utility directions |
| Who restores service | A plumber can repair plumbing and reopen the home valve when safe | The gas utility or a qualified professional after inspection; residents should not turn it back on |
| Meter or street control | Do not assume the meter or curb stop is homeowner-operated | Do not tamper with a meter; follow the gas utility’s instructions |
This guidance is primarily U.S.-oriented. Examples from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) describe particular territories, not every American installation.
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How to find your home’s main water shutoff valve
Start where the service pipe enters
Trace the pipe that brings water from outside into the building. Check the basement, crawl-space access, garage, utility room and the wall or floor immediately around the incoming line. In some homes the valve is inside; in others it is outside near the water meter. A house may also have individual fixture valves, but those do not stop the whole supply.
Layouts change with additions, finished walls and regional construction practices. FEMA’s Are You Ready? Basic Preparedness guidance recommends locating the incoming water-line shutoff in advance and confirming that it fully closes. Do not wait for a leak to discover that a cabinet, stored item or remodel has blocked it.
Recognize the two common valve styles
- Wheel or gate valve: a round handle on the pipe. The usual closing direction is clockwise (“righty-tighty”). Turn until it stops naturally; do not add a bar or cheater handle.
- Lever or ball valve: a straight handle that rotates about a quarter turn. When the handle lies across the pipe, perpendicular to it, the valve is commonly closed; when it follows the pipe, it is commonly open.
These are patterns, not guarantees. SFPUC documents both styles in San Francisco homes, but another manufacturer or installation may operate differently. If the handle position, pipe direction or valve body is unclear, stop and ask a plumber or your water utility.
Close the water valve during a plumbing emergency
- Keep clear of electrical hazards, hot water, sewage and falling materials. If the valve area is wet or unsafe to reach, leave it alone and call for emergency help.
- At a wheel valve, turn the wheel clockwise by hand until it seats. At a lever valve, rotate the handle through its normal quarter turn so it is across the pipe.
- Open a cold-water faucet briefly only if doing so is safe; reduced flow confirms that the supply has stopped, but water may continue while pressure dissipates.
- Call a licensed or otherwise qualified plumber. The American Red Cross advises shutting the main when pipes are damaged and contacting a plumber.
- Keep the valve closed until the failed section is repaired and the plumber confirms that reopening will not cause another leak.
If the valve will not move
Rust, mineral deposits, paint or age can make a valve stiff. Do not force it, strike it or use a long wrench: the valve or connected pipe can break and create a larger leak. A valve that is rusted open or only partly closes should be professionally replaced; FEMA specifically recommends arranging repair when the shutoff cannot fully close.
Do not substitute the meter or curb stop
The water meter and the street-side curb stop may belong to the utility, require specialized keys or be restricted by local rules. SFPUC tells customers not to access its meters and offers a courtesy site visit in its service area. Other utilities set their own policies. Use the home’s identified main valve and call the water utility if you cannot locate or operate it.
How to find your home’s main gas shutoff valve
Locate the meter first
Look outside along the side or front of the building, or in an exterior cabinet, for the gas meter. The service shutoff is commonly on the pipe immediately beside that meter. Some properties have multiple meters, detached structures or an unusual service arrangement. Do not open a cabinet or approach the meter if you smell gas, hear escaping gas, see fire or cannot reach it without entering a suspected gas atmosphere.
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FEMA notes that gas shutoff procedures differ among meter configurations. Contact the local gas company before an emergency and ask which valve is the service shutoff, whether a tool is needed and what the utility expects residents to do during a leak. Photographing the valve from a safe distance and labeling it can help household members identify the correct control later.
Understand the common quarter-turn pattern
For the meter valve shown in PG&E’s instructions, the user places an appropriate wrench on the valve and turns it one quarter turn until the tang is crosswise, or perpendicular, to the pipe. That orientation commonly indicates closed. It is not a universal design rule: use the instructions for your utility and actual meter, not a diagram from another territory.
PG&E recommends keeping a 12- to 15-inch adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench available for its described arrangement and warns that fixed-opening earthquake wrenches may not fit. Check your valve before buying or storing a tool. FEMA Community Emergency Response Team material describes a non-sparking wrench for its depicted meter valve. Because terminology and applicability differ, the local utility’s current specification controls.
Store any wrench where household members can find it but not beside the meter in a way that invites tampering. Never practice by shutting off the gas. Ask the utility to explain the procedure during a preparedness call or inspection.
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What to do if water is escaping
A burst pipe, failed supply line or rapidly spreading leak is a water-damage emergency, not normally a gas emergency. If the main valve is dry, stable and reachable, close it using the appropriate motion above. Move people away from sagging ceilings, contaminated water and electrical equipment; do not enter standing water that may be energized. Then call a plumber and, when appropriate, your insurer or building manager.
If the indoor valve is inaccessible, stuck or located in a dangerous area, call the water utility for guidance rather than attacking the meter or curb stop. Tell the plumber exactly which section is leaking and whether the main reduced the flow.
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What to do if you smell gas, hear hissing or see a broken gas line
Evacuate before troubleshooting
- Warn everyone to leave immediately. Do not stop to search for the source, collect belongings or operate the gas valve from inside a building that may contain gas.
- Do not turn lights on or off, use switches, start appliances, operate a garage-door opener, light a match or candle, smoke, use a telephone in the suspected gas area or create any other ignition source.
- Move well away from the building and suspected leak. Once outside and safe, call emergency services and the gas utility. Tell them whether anyone is injured, whether a line appears broken and whether the odor is indoors or outdoors.
PG&E states: “Do not shut off the gas to your home unless you smell gas, hear it escaping, see a broken gas line or suspect a leak.” That condition does not mean you must enter danger to reach the valve. FEMA and utility guidance differ in how they describe valve operation during an incident, so the safe rule is to attempt shutoff only when the valve is outside, safely accessible and the local utility directs or supports the action.
If the valve is safely reachable
From a safe location, follow your utility’s instructions for the specific meter. Use only the specified tool, stand clear of escaping gas and leave immediately after closing the valve. Do not enter a building to reach an indoor gas control, and do not improvise with pliers, a pipe wrench or a tool that could slip or spark.
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Once the meter valve has been closed, leave it closed. PG&E requires a safety inspection by PG&E or another qualified professional before service is restored and pilots are relit. FEMA likewise says gas restoration should be handled by a qualified professional. The utility or professional will test for leaks, inspect appliances and determine whether pilot lights can be restored safely.
Water and gas shutoffs: a decision guide
| Situation | Your immediate move | Next call | Do not do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe is spraying or a ceiling is wet | Close the indoor main if dry and safely reachable | Plumber; water utility if the valve is unavailable | Force a stuck valve or enter energized standing water |
| Slow leak at a fixture | Close the fixture’s local valve if possible; use the main if necessary | Plumber | Assume a local valve protects the whole house |
| Gas odor, hissing or broken line | Evacuate; avoid all switches, flames and appliances | Emergency services and gas utility from a safe location | Search indoors, use a phone in the gas area or create a spark |
| Gas has been shut off | Keep people away and wait for instructions | Gas utility or qualified professional for inspection and restoration | Reopen the meter valve or relight pilots |
| You cannot identify a valve | Do not guess or manipulate the meter | Water or gas utility, depending on the service | Use a street valve or another home’s control |
Prepare before an emergency
Make a household shutoff map
- Find the water main and gas service valve during daylight and good weather.
- Identify which direction closes each control and whether a tool is required. Verify the gas procedure with the local utility.
- Attach durable, readable tags to the main water line shutoff and gas valve. Ready.gov advises tagging the main water shutoff; FEMA advises labeling gas valves.
- Tell every adult and responsible older child where the controls are, while making clear that no one should approach a suspected gas leak.
- Record the water utility, gas utility, plumber, landlord or building manager and emergency numbers in paper and phone contacts.
Check the water valve without forcing it
During a planned maintenance visit, confirm that the water handle turns through its normal range and stops the flow. If it is corroded, partially closing or leaking around the stem, arrange replacement by a plumber. Do not repeatedly cycle a fragile valve simply to test it.
Choose a gas-valve tool conditionally
Only buy a wrench after checking the actual meter and utility instructions. For the meter arrangement described by PG&E, a 12- to 15-inch adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench is recommended, while fixed-opening earthquake wrenches may not fit. Another utility may specify a different tool, including a non-sparking design. Keep the approved tool accessible but away from the meter itself.
Review the plan after changes
Recheck locations after remodeling, replacing a meter, adding an appliance or finishing a basement. A new wall, cabinet or appliance can conceal a control. Update labels and contact information whenever the household moves or the utility changes its emergency procedure.
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Common mistakes and safer alternatives
- Confusing a fixture valve with the main: trace the pipe and verify that closing the control affects the whole home, not one toilet or appliance.
- Assuming every lever position is identical: compare the handle with the pipe and confirm the manufacturer or utility’s instructions.
- Forcing corrosion: stop and arrange professional replacement; a broken stem can turn a manageable problem into a flooding event.
- Opening a gas cabinet during an odor: evacuate first and call from outside. Never enter a suspected gas cloud to reach a valve.
- Using the water meter or curb stop as a routine control: ask the water utility about access and use the home’s main instead.
- Turning gas back on after an incident: leave restoration, leak testing and pilot relighting to the utility or qualified professional.
- Relying on a generic online diagram: meter configurations vary; keep the local utility’s instructions with your emergency information.
Official guidance to keep with your emergency contacts
FEMA’s Are You Ready? Basic Preparedness states: “Because there are different gas shut-off procedures for different gas meter configurations, it is important to contact your local gas company for guidance on preparation and response regarding gas appliances and gas service to your home.” That advice is the reason to identify your own meter and utility procedure rather than memorize a universal valve position.
SFPUC’s homeowner guidance illustrates indoor and outdoor water shutoffs, gate valves and ball valves, while warning customers not to access water meters. The American Red Cross recommends closing the main when pipes are damaged and calling a plumber. Ready.gov emphasizes labeling the main water shutoff. These sources support preparedness, but your utility’s rules govern access to its equipment and the steps for your particular service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the water shutoff valve in a typical house?
Begin where the incoming water pipe enters the building. Check the basement, garage, utility room, crawl-space access and the wall or floor near the meter; some homes place the main outside.
How do I know whether a water valve is closed?
A wheel valve normally closes clockwise until it stops. A ball-valve handle commonly closes when it is perpendicular to the pipe. Do not force a valve or assume those patterns apply to every installation.
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Only if your local utility permits and instructs you to do so, and only when the valve is safely accessible without entering a suspected gas atmosphere. After closure, do not reopen it; a qualified professional must inspect and restore service.
What should I do if I smell gas but cannot reach the valve?
Evacuate immediately, avoid switches, flames and appliances, and call emergency services and the gas utility from a safe location. Never enter a building or cabinet containing suspected gas to reach the valve.
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