Have you discovered a leak in your home? Do you perhaps need to get extensive plumbing work carried out in your home like remodelling a bathroom or renovating an entire home? Knowing where your home water valve is located and how to turn it off can resolve many emergencies. Here’s how to start:
Where is the water valve?
In the vast majority of homes in Melbourne and elsewhere in Victoria and indeed all of Australia, the water shut-off valve to your home is located at the front of the property, i.e. facing the main road. In some circumstances, it might be located inside the house, such as in a cabinet or utility room.
Usually, your main water valve is covered with a coupler plate and can often be found inside a water meter box. The valve controls all of the water coming from the main municipal supply line to the entire property, so shutting this off will shut off water from all fixtures, such as sinks and toilets.
Keep in mind that you should always alert the state water agency (Victoria Water) to let them know you intend to shut it off. They will typically permit you to do so for common reasons, such as emergency leaks or if the valve needs to be replaced.
If you don’t need to shut off all water to the property, you might be able to do so for individual fixtures, provided that they have their own supply valve. The supply valve is often located behind the fixture or in a separate cabinet, e.g. under the sink, behind the toilet. Fixtures that have hot and cold water pipes will have two valves that need to be turned off.
What do Australian water valves look like?
Well, a valve is a valve, but how do you know which type of valve you’re working with and how to turn it off?
Most of the time, your home will have what is called a ball valve. A ball valve has a small, single handle to turn by hand.
Other times, homes might have a gate valve. These are shaped like a wheel, often with grooves along the circumference to help you grip and turn it.
Lastly, some homes have a T-top isolation valve. As the name implies, the valve is in the shape of the letter T.
How to Turn Off Your Home Water Valve
Once you’ve found the main water shut-off valve and know what type it is, it’s time to shut that water off. The golden rule is to always turn in a clockwise direction. If it helps ,“righty = tighty, lefty = loosy.” Turning it clockwise makes it so that no more water comes into your home from the mains supply. Likewise, turning it counter-clockwise (“to the left”) opens it back up and lets water come in again.
Keep in mind that valves are never supposed to be fiddled with “halfway,” i.e. they should always be completely open or closed. Leaving it not completely open/closed can wear out plumbing and cause leaks. Moreover, you should always close/open the valve in a swift, even motion so as not to break the valve.
For a ball valve, usually only a quarter turn is necessary. For a gate valve or a T-top valve, turn it as far as it will go until it stiffens, at which point it’s closed.
You might be able to do this with your bare hands, no problem; you may sometimes need to use gloves or a set of pliers to turn it. Rust and debris buildup can make it hard to turn. If it simply won’t budge, don’t force it and call a qualified plumber instead.
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