The basics
Every home connected to municipal water has a main shut-off valve, usually just inside the house where the water service enters. It stops the flow to the entire home. Knowing its location and confirming it works can be the difference between a damp floor and a ruined basement.
In most Brampton homes, the service enters through the front foundation wall facing the street, then passes through the water meter. The shut-off sits right beside the meter, on the street side or the house side, sometimes both.
Step by step
- Go to the basement and stand on the side of the house nearest the street.
- Look for the spot where the supply pipe rises from the slab or pokes through the street-side wall, often near the furnace or in a utility room.
- Follow the pipe to the water meter, a small device with a dial or digital readout.
- Find the valve beside the meter. Expect one of two shapes: a round wheel, or a straight lever.
- Test it gently. A wheel turns clockwise to close. A lever needs only a quarter swing, ending crosswise to the pipe.
- Turn on an upstairs faucet; if nothing flows, the valve works, then reopen the valve slowly.
If you cannot find it
Finished basements sometimes hide the valve behind a panel or inside a closet. Check under stairs, behind access doors and in the cold cellar. Townhomes and condos may have the valve in a utility closet or a shared mechanical room. In some homes, the shut-off sits in a crawl space. If it truly is covered by drywall, we strongly recommend adding an access panel.
Old valves that will not budge
Older homes often have gate valves with round handles. Left alone for years, they stiffen up. Resist reaching for a wrench on a stuck one; the stem can snap, leaving you worse off. A quarter-turn ball valve is a reliable replacement.
The curb stop
Out by the lot line, under a little cap in the grass or driveway, sits the Region's own valve, called the curb stop. It belongs to the Region and requires a special key. Call the Region of Peel if you need it operated.
Time to bring in the shop
Call us if your main shut-off is seized, leaking around the stem, or will not stop the flow fully. Replacing it is a short job and greatly improves your ability to respond in an emergency. If water is already pouring in and you cannot stop it, see the burst-pipe first-moves guide, and reach us through our emergency plumber service. For a broader look at your system, our burst pipe repair page explains how we handle the aftermath.
Asked at the shop counter
Is it safe to turn off my main valve myself?
Yes. Close it gently and open it slowly. If it is stiff or leaks, stop and call us rather than forcing it.
Should I turn off the water heater when I close the main?
For a short shut-off, no. For longer periods, turn a gas heater to pilot or vacation mode, or switch off power to an electric one.
Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.