How to Turn Your Water Off in an Emergency
Written by Richie Foster
Founder, licensed plumber
Reckon you've got a water leak? Maybe the bill's suddenly high, water's pooling in the front yard, or it's spurting out under the kitchen sink. You could have a burst pipe. So what do you do first?
Before you even call a plumber, the first job is to turn off your water supply. In some homes that's easy, in others it's downright fiddly, so here's how to find the valve and shut it off, whatever kind of building you're in.
When you find the tap or valve handle, turn it clockwise to shut the water off. What you're looking for is a valve handle on the water meter, or one on your water supply line. Have a few tools handy just in case, like a shifting wrench or a pair of pliers.
Where to find your water meter
A standalone brick-veneer home in the suburbs usually has the meter at the front, in the lawn or a garden bed. You've probably walked past it hundreds of times without noticing.
A unit or duplex closer to Melbourne often has the meter on the side, usually out the front but sometimes round the back. There's also a mains meter, but turning that off shuts down every unit in the block, so only use it if you can't find your own meter or it won't work.
An apartment block usually has the meters in the carpark below, often grouped together in a cabinet near the other services. Make sure you're turning off the water to your apartment and not a neighbour's. You can usually tell from the markings on the meter, so look for your apartment number.
A factory or office generally has the meter at the front of the property, often near the fire service, and it's usually a larger valve and meter assembly. You may need tools to turn it. If your office is part of a complex, there may be an individual meter near your front door.
Once the water's off, call a licensed plumber to sort the actual problem. If you can't find your meter even after this, give us a call and we'll talk you through it.
How we do it at Fix-It Right
A burst pipe or a leak is exactly the kind of thing we're set up for. We keep it simple: there's $0 call-out, we give you three written quotes so you can pick what suits your budget, and you'll always know the price before we start. If the number's a stretch, Fix-It Now Pay Later gives you 12 months with no interest and no repayments. Every job is backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee, because the whole idea is to fix it properly the first time. Plumbing fixed for good, not fixed for now.
We handle burst and leaking pipes across Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Canberra. Book online or give us a call.
About the author
Richie Foster, Founder
Richie has owned and run Fix-It Right Plumbing since 2007 and has been plumbing since he was 16, across domestic, commercial and industrial work. He's a firm believer in doing it once and doing it right, and that's the standard he's built into the whole team.