Emergency Water Shutoff Tips: Protect Your Home with SERVPRO of Uptown and East Charlotte

5/31/2024 (Permalink)

Urgent! How to Quickly Shut Off Water to Prevent Home Damage

If you don't know where or how to turn off the water at your property, read on!

Experiencing a water loss at your Charlotte property can be overwhelming, but shutting off the water supply valve can prevent severe damage. If you're not prepared to turn off the water supply in an emergency, hundreds of gallons can flood your home while waiting for help. We have seen this happen!

Where Should You Look for the Water Shutoff?

1. Inside the House: The master shut-off valve is usually located inside the house near the outdoor meter.
2. Basement or Crawlspace: If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the shut-off valve is likely on the wall closest to the street.
3. Slab Construction: If your home is built on a slab with no basement, the valve is most likely in the garage or near the hot water heater.

Found It! Now What?

Once you locate the valve, it will either be a ball valve or a gate valve:

• Ball Valve: Simply turn the handle perpendicular to the pipe.
• Gate Valve: Turn the handle clockwise to shut it off.

After turning off the water, take a deep breath and call in a water specialist to mitigate the damage. One call to SERVPRO of Uptown and East Charlotte, and we will handle the rest—so you can get some rest!