Every week we arrive at homes where a burst pipe has been running for half an hour — not because the owner didn’t act, but because nobody knew where the main valve was. Here is how to find yours today, while the floor is still dry.
1. Where the line enters the house
In most Austin homes built after 1980, the main shut-off sits where the water line comes through the slab: look in the garage on the wall facing the street, behind a small access panel, or near the water heater closet.
2. At the meter box
The City of Austin meter box near the curb has a utility-side valve. It needs a meter key (about $12 at any hardware store). Keep one in the garage — it’s the best $12 you’ll spend.
Test it once a year. A valve that hasn’t turned in a decade can seize — or snap — when you finally need it.
3. Ball valve or gate valve?
A lever handle (ball valve) closes with a quarter turn — line it up across the pipe. A round wheel (gate valve) needs several clockwise turns. If yours is an old gate valve that drips when turned, we can swap it for a ball valve in about an hour.
4. The 30-second test
- Turn the main valve off.
- Open the highest tap in the house.
- If water stops within 30 seconds, you’re good. If it keeps running, the valve is failing.
Label the valve with a bright tag and show everyone in the house. Then, if the worst happens, call us on (512) 555-0199 — we’ll stay on the line while you shut it off.
