Locating Main Water Shut off Valve

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    • #277586
      Avatar photoDonna Lynn

        I live in TX (Dallas area) and am trying to locate the main water shut-off for my house. The city does not allow the at-street shut-off valves to be accessed by homeowners (except emergencies). I’ve lived here for years and seemingly looked everywhere but cannot find it. How would a plumber go about locating the valve?

        Thanks
        Jim

      • #296616
        Avatar photoRetired plbg1
        Participant

          Here we have a stop on water main to make tap, a valve between side walk and curb and a valve in the meter box. Measure in basement where valve is and take measurement outside and mark it on wall. If you dont have a magnetict body you can take 2 brass roda and bend them about 8″ from end on 90 deg. angle and put them in your fist and wak across where you think it is and the rods will swing perpendicular with pipe in ground if it is cop. are metal, it works for some and some it dont, a Plumber has a metal detecter and can find it fast.



          Art retired plbg

        • #296617
          Avatar photoJim1504
          Participant

            Thanks Art. My house was built in ’92 & has no basement. I cannot locate the main valve to the house. I never knew that plumbers needed to locate shutoff valves with metal detectors. When I was growing up, they put them inside the house.

            Thanks again!
            Jim

          • #296618
            Avatar photoCincinnatiPlumbing
            Participant

              Around here the waterline is brought through the slab usually in a closet where the water heater is. It is here that the main shut off valve would be. In other localities I’ve heard of the main valve being just outside the house before it enters the dwelling.

            • #296619
              Avatar photoRetired plbg1
              Participant

                Jim
                Did you ever find the shut off valve.



                Art retired plbg

              • #296620
                Avatar photoJimW
                Participant

                  Actually just found it yesterday by accident. I was de-mulching the landscape near the front of the house and noticed a green cover under the mulch and dirt.

                  I figured it was probably an irrigation valve box but thought I might check just in case. It was filled with dirt as it probably hadnt been used in 12 years.

                  The first turn of the handle broke the handle off. It looks like a screw on handle to control the valve. I’ll go try to find a handle tomorrow.

                  I appreciate everyones help. I probably wouldn’t have found it but you guys convinced me that I had one somewhere!

                  Thanks again!!
                  Jim

                • #296621
                  Avatar photoRetired plbg1
                  Participant

                    You mustlive where it is warm on kind of reaching down and turn water off by hand, here we need a water key, our pipes are 45″ below gr. and we need a water key to turn the valve which is called a tee head, good luck hope thats the main valve let me know.



                    Art retired plbg

                  • #296622
                    Avatar photoJim1504
                    Participant

                      RP
                      Yes, it iis warm here (Texas). I bought the handle but it rained and now have to wait until the water level lowers. I’ll let you know what happens. Thanks for the interest!
                      Jim

                    • #296623
                      Avatar photoJim1504
                      Participant

                        RP
                        It was the main valve & after a little WD-40 works great now. Now I don’t have to worry about being stalked by the local water police. Thanks for all the help!

                        I’ll have to start a new thread on replacing the outside spigots which are leaking.

                        Jim

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