The Main Water Shutoff Valve (Pump and Well Systems) InspectAPedia® -
The Main Water Shutoff Valve or Control, How to Locate & Shut Off Water in a Building
What are the controls, switches, valves found on water tanks and water pumps, what do they do, how are they repaired?
Questions & answers about how to turn off water at a building: how to find the main water shutoff valve on pump and well systems
This article describes The Main Water Shutoff Valve or Control, How to Locate & Shut Off Well Water in a Building for private pump and well systems. We explain how to locate and use the main well water shutoff valve to turn off water in a building.
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In our photo at page top the white arrow points to a lever type main water shutoff valve found near the outlet from the water pressure tank. This valve will turn off all water entering the building plumbing system. If your water supply is from a municipal water system and you need to turn off all water to the building, see WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE.
MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE - How to Find the Valve and How to Turn Off Water in a Building
Lever type water tank shutoff valves: Every private pump, water tank, and well system should have at least one main water shutoff valve.
Usually the valve is located close to the water pressure tank, on the main water line leaving the water tank (and supplying water to the building). In this photo the blue handled valve which we labeled "WATER" is connected on the water tank bottom
outlet fitting on the left side in this picture.
We like these lever type valves as they are more reliable and less leaky over time than the older round-handled valves (discussed next) that just use an internal washer
to close off the water supply.
Round handled water tank shutoff valves are used on many water systems. In this photo of an older type galvanized steel water pressure tank we see a blue jet pump
to the left of the tank and we can just make out a galvanized pipe leaving the top of the water pump and (probably) entering the water tank on the back side that we can't see.
At the right side of this water tank, starting near the bottom, we see first a tank drain valve (see that white tape on the drain valve's outlet where someone has recently
attached a hose?). Just above the tank drain valve we see a round-handled shutoff valve.
This will be the main water shutoff for this building.
We also notice a copper wire connected to the water tank piping, probably someone's attempt to either ground the plumbing (electrically) or to provide a connection to ground for the service panel.
(This won't work to provide a connection to earth for the electrical panel if the well piping is plastic.)
At the right side of this water tank we also notice an air volume control (that disc-shaped device) and a copper tube connected to the right side of the air volume control (AVC) reappears but is hard to see, connected to the water pump itself.
Which way to turn the water shutoff valve - which way is "off"?
Lever type water valves such as the one in this photo are "on" or "open" permitting water to flow when the valve handle is parallel or "in line with"
the water piping, and the valve is "off" or "closed" or "shut" when the valve is at right angles to the piping. So in this photo you can see that the water valve is in the "open" position.
Round handled shutoff valves are in their "open" position when the valve has been turned fully
counter clockwise and these valves are "shut" when the valve has been turned fully in a clockwise direction.
Multiple Water Shutoff Valves May Be Present
Multiple water shutoff valves may be present especially on older water systems. An owner or
plumber may decide it's less work to leave an old valve, one that won't shut off, in place and simply
install another one. In this photo of a rather ugly water tank and well installation, we can
see three different water shutoff valves.
A yellow handled lever type shutoff valve is installed on the copper pipe leaving the bottom of the water tank - photo center
An older round handled shutoff valve is visible just to the left of the gray-covered pump pressure control switch (follow the copper pipe
from the center bottom of the water tank, past the yellow handled valve, past the left turn (or elbow), through the pressure control switch, to the left of the switch and where galvanized piping begins.
A still older shutoff valve, without its handle, is visible at the other end of this section of galvanized (silver colored) piping, just before the copper piping begins again.
How to Fix Leaky Water Shutoff Valves
Leaks at main shutoff valves occur, particularly at round shutoff valves around the valve stem (the rod just under the valve handle). Sometimes you can repair such a leak
by carefully and gently tightening the nut that is found just under the round valve handle and through which the valve stem protrudes. This will squeeze valve stem packing
more tightly around the stem and may stop a leak there. But be careful not to over do it - if you crack the packing nut or break the valve assembly you'll have a much bigger leak.
How to turn off the water if you cannot find the main shutoff valve:
if the main shutoff valve can't be located, or if it is broken (or you just broke it), or if it is jammed and does not turn, you can still stop water from running into the building.
Find and turn off the electrical power to the water pump. The water pump main electrical switch is usually located near the water pump or water pressure tank (if the pump is a submersible unit
down in the well). The water pump electrical switch is described in more detail below.
If you turn off electrical power to the water pump, some water may continue to flow into the building until all of the pressure in the water pressure tank has been exhausted
(perhaps one to four minutes) but that'll be it.
If your water supply is from a municipal supply and not a private well and water tank,
and if your water shutoff needs repair or replacement, you'll need to find (or get help finding) a main water shutoff that may be located (buried) between the building and the water main
in the street. See WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE. We advise against taking apart or messing with a stiff or leaky main water shutoff on municipal water supply systems unless you can shut off the water outside of
the building first.
Where to Find & How to Turn Off the Water in Buildings with a Private Well and Water Pump - Which Way to Turn the Water Shutoff Valve
Turning off the main water valve is enough to protect a building from significant water damage when the structure is to be left unattended, but with heat on at the property.
Usually the main water valve is between the water tank and the rest of the building. So even if things freeze or a pipe breaks in the building, only the actual water in the pipes would leak - a minimal quantity.
Our photo (left) shows the main building water shutoff valve at a property served by a private well and water pressure tank. For lever-type valves, when the valve handle is parallel to the piping the water is ON. When the valve handle is turned to a right angle to the piping the water supply is OFF.
For round handled water shutoff valves, turning the valve "in" or clockwise turns the water OFF and turning the valve "out" or counterclockwise turns the water ON.
In extreme cold, or some bizarre event that caused a leak or break in the water tank itself or in the well piping entering the water tank,
the drop in pressure at the water tank would turn on the pump and it would run continuously (presuming a leak somewhere). Even though water was not being delivered to the rest of the building, the location of the water tank could be flooded.
Turn off electrical power to the well pump: For this reason, in addition to turning off the main water valve, we recommend turning off electrical power to the well pump too.
We don't drain the water tank nor building plumbing unless a total building shut-down is being planned.
Our photo (left) shows the pump electrical switch in our forensic laboratory. Because the building is sometimes checked by people who do not know the water controls well, you'll see that we labeled the switch to make it easy to recognize.
Emergency water turn off procedures - building with a well: In an emergency, if your main water valve breaks or is not operating at a house served by a private well, pump, and tank, be sure to leave the electrical power to the water pump turned off, and see if you can drain water pressure from the system at plumbing fixtures or at the water tank drain.
Thanks to reader Ron Blodgett for suggesting this clarification about just where and how to turn off building water when leaving a building unattended.
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about how to turn off water at a building: how to find the main water shutoff valve on pump and well systems.
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Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
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Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
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Handbook of Disinfectants and Antiseptics, Joseph M. Ascenzi (Editor), CRC, 1995, ISBN-10: 0824795245 ISBN-13: 978-0824795245 "The evaluation of chemical germicides predates the golden age of microbiology..." -
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Potable Aqua® emergency drinking water germicidal tablets are produced by the Wisconsin Pharmacal Co., Jackson WI 53037. 800-558-6614 pharmacalway.com
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The Pharmaceutical Journal: "This is an excellent book. It deals comprehensively and authoritatively with its subject with contributions from 31 distinguished specialists. There is a great deal to interest all those involved in hospital infection ... This book is exceptionally well laid out. There are well chosen references for each chapter and an excellent index. It is highly recommended." The Journal of Hospital Infection.: "The editors and authors must be congratulated for this excellent treatise on nonantibiotic antimicrobial measures in hospitals and industry ... The publication is highly recommended to hospital and research personnel, especially to clinical microbiologists, infection-control and environmental-safety specialists, pharmacists, and dieticians."
New England Journal of Medicine: City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Covers the many methods of the elimination or prevention of microbial growth. Provides an historical overview, descriptions of the types of antimicrobial agents, factors affecting efficacy, evaluation methods, and types of resistance. Features sterilization methods, and more. Previous edition: c1999. DNLM: Sterilization--methods.
U.S. Army Field Manual 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, 1988, web search 07/02/2010, original source: http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-21-10-field-hygiene-and-sanitation.shtml The purpose of this manual is to assist individual soldiers, unit commanders, leaders and field sanitation teams in preventing disease and environmental injuries. The manual provides information on preventive medicine measures (PMM) to the individual soldier as well as essential information for the unit commander, unit leaders, and the unit field sanitation team on applying unit level PMM.
When Technology Fails, Matthew Stein, Chelsea Green Publisher, 2008,493 pages. ISBN-10: 1933392452 ISBN-13: 978-1933392455, "... how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing". Mr. Stein's website is www.whentechfails.com/
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