How to Shut Water Off to Your House...MUST HAVE TOOL!
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- How to Shut Water Off to Your House...MUST HAVE TOOL! This video will show you how to locate the water meter, turn the water meter off, and the tools used to shut it off. Knowing how to shut this valve off will help prevent flood damage. Subscribe here : / @thatfixitguy
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Thanks for the tip Brian! On your advise I actually had a shut off valve installed in the basement as my water meeter is on the inside of my house.
Can't let my mom be wadin water if an emergency comes up!
@@ThatFixItGuy po8
People talk to much instead of getting to the point.
You mean... : *How to turn water back on after the city claimed you didn't pay the bill*
😂 yes
Not claim..you DIDNT pay the bill😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤫🤫🤫
Guilty, squatting over the valve right now
I'm about to now 😂
So easy! Thanks, man! I literally had no idea how to shut it off from the outside!
Your welcome! It is nice to know in an emergency situation!
Thanks man! I I guess the people who disliked the video was scared of spiders. You helped out a lot.
Lol! I bet it is all the spider haters! Glad this helped out!
I just found a black widow under mine. Thankfully i had to spray next to me bc it was pissed lol.
Where I live we don't have a hard freeze very often, it got down to 7 degrees last night. A friend of mine suggested turning off at the meter, and I'm hoping I haven't made a huge mistake, because I just turned the water back on and nothing is happening. Thanks for making this video. Luckily I've had one of those water meter keys for a long time.
All you had to do was keep your water running a little there's water in the pipes sitting that will freeze even if you shut off the main
I have the tool that I need but it’s so tight that I couldn’t get the knob to turn at all. Can I spray it with W4D or something to loosen it?
In my city, they charge $60 dollars to send a guy out to shut or turn the water on in my condo. A ripoff. We have a lever that I use in the spring when i leave. This year I turned the lever to "off." Some dope came along and turned it "on." My toilet overflowed and caused damage down below. I'm going to get the tool. My box area is extremely restricted for space. Trying to wrench it is difficult. Thanks for your help Brian!
Your welcome. This tool makes it so easy to turn the water off and on. Bummer about someone turning the water back on. That sucks. It is such a specific thing to do that they should check with someone and make sure it is not off for a reason.
Thank you Brian I had to do this last night I forgot where the knob was Man it's cold at night You had save a lot of time before I can stay warm God bless you man and thank you for the advice as well
Your welcome. So glad this could help you out.
Thank you, from a Texan about to go through her first freeze as a homeowner. My copper plumbing is making me nervous. Have the curb key hung up right by the garage door just in case!
Hi Mr Fix - Who knew there was a "Water Meter Key". Well now I do and I ordered one. Thanks for sharing and continued success. Love PegEgg
Thank you so much. This is a tool I think every homeowner should have. So easy when you need to use it. I hope we can help again.
This is what i've been wanting to know...thanks to this video, it's helpful!
So glad this could help. Hope we can help again.
This helped me out, thank you! I didn't have that special tool, but I did have that wrench. It was easy, peasy!
Thank you! You helped us out tonight! 👍🏼👍🏼
So glad this could help. That’s what is all about!
Thank you so much, you have no idea how you’ve helped me today. Sending you a big hug 😘👏👏👏
So happy this could help you out.
I did not know the on/off position of a lockwing curb stop, which is exactly what you had in the video. The bonus info is that I did not realize lining up the holes in the off position was for the placement of a lock. Thank you!
Good advice on opening the meter slowly when turning the water back on. If you do it fast and there is a bad connection or pipe somewhere, you may blow out a pipe and that will be a big problem.
For sure. No one needs that head ache. Thank you for your comments!
Thanks so much! You saved me.
Thanks sir for the video!
Thanks for this. Very helpful.
Your welcome. Thanks for checking us out.
Very useful . Thanks !
Thanks for the useful vidio!
Very Good!!!
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Thanks wrench worked just fine
Pro tip with the wrench... Tighten it on the valve and then use a screwdriver through the hole on the end of the handle to give yourself more torque. Also useful for when your meter box is much smaller than the one in this video.
Thank You it worked 🤙🏼
Thank is great to hear. Hope we can help again.
We'll done good job man !
Thank you! I’m glad this helped!
Thanks!!
thank you so much!
Good to know!
Dallin Smith yes it is.
Thank you!!!
Thank you this helped me a lot
So happy to hear that.
black widow's favorite spot in the world. They like no place better
Thank you!
You rock man
I hope this helped you out! I also hope we can help you again!
Thx..late night raining,was able to turn water on... Used pliers
Yeah use what you got when you need it. Good job! Did you have a pipe break?
Hi Fix-it guy. Thanks for your video. I bought a meter key but the opening at the end of of the key is 3/4 inch wide. The width of the bar on the top of my city shut-off is 5/16 inch wide which is much smaller. It is hard to find meter keys with a smaller width opening at the end of the U-shaped key. Does it matter if when turning the valve it only makes a small amount of contact on the shut off valve in two spots on the ends of the bar valve? I don't want to break the city valve and it hasn't been operated in 16 years. I found one key made by Bully that has a 3/8 inch opening. Would that be better? I don't know why most keys have a 3/4 inch opening? Thanks so much and I would appreciate your insight on this. I live in a rural area and the city has been no help at all.
Thank you
Hi..If I need to turn off my water how would I do it? I have the same water meter key but the valve doesn't want to move. Also my valve does not have a loop for the city to lock it. I believe it might be an old style valve. It's just round and it has a T handle up on top to accommodate the key. So do I turn it CW or CCW?
That valve may have not be used in a long time. It may be difficult to turn but should turn. You turn a 1/4 turn clockwise to close. You could cut a couple pieces of pipe and stick on the end of the handles to make them a little longer that will give you more leverage and should allow you to open and close more easily. Once in a while I have to grab a second person one on each side of the valve key handle to close it.
If it still does not budge and you are are city water call them to come and replace it. It is their valve.
Let me know how it works out for you.
Thanks 👍
Thank you brother
Also handy if the water metric is located 8-12 inches below the ground surface , submerged in muddy water or ice /snow
Yeah your correct! I’ve dug too many out with a baby garden shovel or my hands. I love my meter key.
Thanks for this! The city tuned off my water but I was able to turn it back on! Thanks again!!! 😈
Surprised they did not put a lock on it? Or did they just forget to turn it back on when they changed your meter?
@@ThatFixItGuy no they didn’t lock it
6-minutes to describe turning a valve on / off. Fair-dos! 😜
Top of the Morning to you there, That Fix it Guy! I need your help with a suggestion to use as a key to open/close a water pit lid type X. The meter reader leaves it unlocked and when mowing, I feel a little unsafe at times. So I want to lock it back.
Thanks in advance! You're always so helpful. Much appreciated.
Rocky in Indiana
I would have it closed for sure. Do what you feel comfortable with. They get paid to open that to read the meter is my suggestion
Update . ...I happened to see a meter reader at my rental property and explained the situation. He told me many of the covers are rusted and difficult to open /close and that's probably why it's left open. But he turned it in and in two days there was a Brand New cover.
I made a shutoff key out of a four foot long piece of 1" schedule 40 pvc pipe.. just cut a notch into one end that fits snug over the shutoff valve's raised grip. I have bad knees so the 4' pvc makes it easy to shutoff without kneeling.
LIFE SAVER!!
So glad this could help!
Thanks!
Your welcome! Thanks for watching.
Great video, what if the shut off valve is super hard to turn. I can't even get to turn even with a shut off key.
If that is the case I would call the city. Tell them you tried it cause you house shut off was not working and think it needs to be replaced.
In addition to the conventional water meter valve I have inline globe valves with the cast circular handles. They get too tight to turn by hand. Is there a tool like a universal socket that grabs that handle and helps torque it loose? These valves are typically in holes below ground so can't really remove the handle and put a wrench on the stem -- no room. Needs a T wrench from above similar to the water meter T handle.
A lot of times people use what we here call a pickle fork. amzn.to/3S9WAJY
Definitely thanks for the info, I have a 1958 house and I believe the house turn off valve is in a crawl space that is tough to get to. So in an emergency I don't want to be going underneath my house to get between this plenum that I can barely fit into to shut the water off. I definitely want to go to the meter and shut it off there. Understanding that's the city's property and they call it a felony or misdemeanor if you tamper with it. As long as I'm caught up on my bills. And it's an emergency. Think everyone would be okay with using this shut off valve by the meter?
I totally get it. Any type of plumbing work can be considered an emergency without the proper shut off valve. I think everyone should know where to shut the water off at the street or well and should have a tool to do it. I've seen way too many issues with flooding. So glad this helped.
Thanks. I'll have better luck with the wrench. What I had to use was a set of wrench sets for a car. I had to use a 15 & 17mm wrench to turn it. Otherwise titanic was saying wassup to the house...
Oh man I’m glad you were able to get it shut off! Water leaks are never a good time! The best way to shut it off really is any way you can!
Thanks. I'm glad I found the video & it was short & right to the point.
Arrow on valve should be pointing toward the meter - I think - when it is in the on or open position. The water off position is turning it to the left or clockwise position.
This type of arrangement is definitely only in southern locations where it doesn't go below freezing often. In Northern places the city watermain and supply line to the house are buried under the frost line, often 8 feet deep, there is usually a curbstop/valve buried underground at the property line with a stem/spindle that rises up to the surface so the city can turn it off if they need. The supply line goes up into the floor of the basement or foundation and the meter is inside the house and there is supposed to be another valve on the city side of the meter. The curbstop/valve on the property line is rarely used unless the main shutoff in the house is faulty, and often the stem used to turn the curbstop is buried under the lawn and topsoil, so city crews use a pin-finder metal detector to locate them sometimes.
Yep. My moms meter is in her basement up in PA. I live in the pacific northwest and this is the way I have seen everything. Our frost line is only 18 inches here though. Thank you for the information. I love it and I know other folks will find it useful.
Wow that is good to know! The frost line is pretty low there I guess! Thanks for that information.
Yes! They often use a 5-6 foot tall "T" shaped tool with lugnut turners at each of the 3 ends..
Thank you mr. Stalin.
Lol. I know that mustache was a thing of beauty! Or at least I thought so! Thanks for watching.
Holy shit ,u just saved my house
Happy to help.
FYI those valves at the meter are city property, so if you break them the City (depends on each city) could charge you for the repairs of the angle stop and fine you for messing with it... Unless its an emergency you are better off calling the city if you need your water shut off for repairs and they will turn it on and off for free and you aren't liable if the city breaks it.
Oh man if anyone ever had to call the city to shut the meter off with a plumber at their house he would have to wait a week. Never seen that ever happen in a timely fashion.
I have never had an issue with the city when shutting these off or with them fixing the of valve if it does not work.
But I understand what your saying. Thank you.
In Beaumont ca we call the city I try that rebar n it didn't work n they told us we need to put our own shut off valve inside our house
In Edmonton the city charges $190 to come out and turn your water off.
Yeah man. They can charge 300-400 bucks for a 1-1/2 inch meter. They'd make a killing. We'd sell them the meters for like 23.00 bucks. Like 6 bucks more than wholesale cost. Damn bids were annoying. We'd do it more for the relationship with the city importy ppl than the profit
Thank you! You are awesome.
V.Kids
So glad that this could help you out.
Thank you I didn't know what to do. We had a pipe burst. I didn't know what to do.
Thanks for the help man! I appreciate it! Cheers 🍻
Thanks ! That's what I need evidently. Think I'll get one of those rather than use a wrench.
What is weird is that there is a valve going into the house here BUT that valve is AFTER the pipe tap that goes to the sprinkler system and front water spigot right out of the ground.
So there is not one at the meter, but after the tee for the sprinkler line?
There is one at the meter of course and one going into the house. BUT evidently here in Sun City, AZ (a retirement community), they don't want you to shut off your irrigation system while you are away during the summer, if you are a snowbird (like me)...
So, the issue here is that we need to work on the automatic sprinkler system and will need to turn off the meter valve to do that of course.
Someone else just told me about not wanting you to turn off the irrigation during summer so that makes some sense. Wish they had a separate valve for that but, whatever works. It's cheaper this way I guess. 😀
Yeah right on. I lived in Surprise and worked in Sun City alot. really liked that area. I'm sure it has changed. I guess I get that, but I would want a shut off for the irrigation as well. does the sprinkler system have a backflow device on it?
I believe it does have the backflow valve. The replacement looks about the same as the one on there now. On the left output sprinkler side, there is a large-ish flat knob that a friend says is the backflow valve side. Solenoid is in the middle. On the right water input side is a knob on a one or two inch shaft.
One thing that make this harder to replace might be that there is paint on the lower fittings and most likely glue or sealant on the other PVC piping that may mean having to saw off the PVC. I would rather not have to have my house water be turned off while we scramble to try and install the replacement system. 😀
Luckily I also have a nice neighbor that can help me I think.
Thank you for your channel !
I love hearing your neighbor is going to help you out. That is awesome. One of my favorite things. I hope you get it fixed up.
Do I turn it right or left? My water is still running in the house both directions. I’m not sure how many times to turn the switch.
is that hole where the city puts a lock on, is that sometimes a screw instead of a lock? because mine seems to have a screw in it which is preventing me from turning the fucker back on
My water meter has the hand wheel so I don't really have to have a tool to turn it off. This place has water leaks often and my landlord expects residents to be vigilant about turning it off and on 🙄
I don't like putting my hand on the meter box especially when it's full of water.
What can I use to turn the wheel??
There are stop tabs but be careful you can break the valve by going past the stop tab. If it isn’t turning either way the tap the top side of the turn valve where the key fits over
My valve is so Hard to turn either way.
Get the water meter key. My water disaster caused the meter to be buried in a pool of muddy water! No way you could find the shut off with a wrench. In an emergency you want to find it FAST! You're welcome.
i use rain water though because its so difficult 😂
Wish I had known this before having to call a plumber, but at least I can prevent today's mishap again in the future.
Yeah hopefully it did not cause too much damage.
@@ThatFixItGuy I was lucky, and it was a tub faucet, so with the shower curtain all the water pretty much went to the drain, and a little into the crawlspace.
I turned the water to the meter off. But I still have full pressure inside the house and don’t see any difference. Is the water coming from the water heater? How does turning off the water to the house at the meter affect what’s going on with the water heater?
Pretty hard to use small hand tool. Yes, use the water meter key. Mine is stuck and hard even with the tool. Guess I need bigger key tool. Any tips? Wd40 on the valve? I'm at a loss.
If you meter is that hard to turn off I would call the city and tell them that you can’t get it to shut off. That is the city’s valve.
You could make sure it is cleaned around the valve and spray it with some PB blaster or WD40. It may loosen up. I have found them to be hard at times.
If they hassle you about it tell them your shut off in the house doesn’t work and the meter has to be fixed to your valve can be fixed.
I was actually looking for the shot off valve today for my business were i work at, this place where I work at has over time has built a new section of the build-in, use to be anther build-in but thay tour it down and used the water meter from that build-in on the new side of the build-in. The new side has the current water meter, but i found out we have 2 Water Meters at my job, the one water meter i found does not have a shot off valve, not one i can see, but it looks old and outdated from the other water meter. Will it cost anything to replace it with the current one for the business we're i work? Or will the city make us pay for a new one?
Were i work at has 5 Water Meters, I thought it was 4, but i found the other one, the one i was talking about that looks old. I work at a big business that has a yard and has a monument cross the street. The only reason i bought it up because the hot water tank quit working, and was getting Everything ready this Monday for the plumber to change it out and update it to code, with a shot off valve on the line to the tank, but i did find a 2nd valve to turn off the water, we're he can replace the tank. I am thinking about calling the city to come out and check the meter, i might be look at the wrong spot for the main cut-off value.
I would totally talk to the city about it. You should not have to pay to change the meter
@@ThatFixItGuy I talked to the city today and they said thay will come out and turn the water off, was thinking how there going to turn the water off, unless thay then off a part in the City water grid, the water meter does not have a main-cut off as far i can see. I have a pic, but youtube won't let me post the link were y'all can see it.
You can send to over on Facebook if you like or email. That is interesting. Let me know what they say about the situation. I would love to know. They just don’t make sense sometimes.
Great video but what if it’s stuck and doesn’t turn at all is that a city issue?
I live in Southern California by the way so never to cold here
One of my pull-up handle faucets outside are leaking in the ground how long can I leave them water main off
you could leave it off as long as you like really. But it will shut the water off to the house I think. unless there is a tee with a valve. Did it break from freezing? Do you know if your main line is buried below the frost line?
The house I used to own was on the family farm. There were 2 houses running off the same well, the shut-off to my house was in my dad's basement.
That is wild. At least you knew that! Thanks for checking the channel out!
Where I live there is also a special key to take the water meter cover off.
Interesting. If you get a chance could you send me a picture of one? I would like to see it.
Stupid question: I have a pentagon-shaped water shut-off valve in my alley. How do I go about tuning water off/on?
I have the same water valve, I went to buy the T tool you showed but was not able to move it not even my neighbor, what can I do?
If you can not get that to turn I will contact your city water people and let them know. It technically is theirs and should fix that.
Much appreciated
Your so welcome! Hope we can help again.
I know where it was but I needed to figure out witch way to turn it to get it off but thank you for the help
Awesome! Glad we could help! Thank you for watching and hope we can help again.
😉👍
Thanks for watching!
"a little bit harder..." but didn't get it to move with the wrench. lol. yea it ain't easy with the wrench at all. I have had terrible luck with one.
Ok. So I did this and I still have water? Does this turn off 100%? Trying to swap out water heater. Old house and only the main meter seems to be accessible.
This should turn it off 100%. If this does not shut it off call the city and have them replace it.
@@ThatFixItGuy Thank you! So I called the city and they informed me the main shut off bleed a little so they added another T cut off further up the line. I located it and it turns water off 100%.
Not if your valve is frozen, your gona need 2 pipe wrench and some type of lubricant, cuz those cheap water key always bend if it frozen
The one I have is pretty stout. 1/2 rebar it think.
Free water 😈
👍
If you are turning it back on for the wrong reasons be prepared to be fined
Yeah don’t cut a lock and turn it back on.
What if it doesn't move? Could it be frozen?
It could be frozen, but there is a chance that it is hard to move because it has not been used in a while. I have had to use two people to turn them before or make some longer handle extensions out of pipe. The extra leverage helps.
Which way do I turn it to shut off
Clockwise till it stops should shut it down.
When I turned it righty tighty water began to leak from an open end near it
You may want to call the city about that then. That seems weird.
Might be a U-shape? Or maybe a half-eaten donut shape or something... 🙂
Is it illegal to tamper with this city valve?
In an emergency situation you are able to shut that off. Who deems what is an emergency when it comes to something going on with your plumbing.
I turned mine off but I still have excellent water pressure and a leak
That sucks. I would call the city at that point. Once they replace the bad valve then you can make the repair you need of the leak is on your side. Good luck!
@@ThatFixItGuy It was my fault. The valve wasn't aligned correctly yet. I over shot the mark now I'm on to installing the new compression fittings on the old sink 🍻 what could go wrong huh
LOL! Its plumbing! So much can go wrong! Glad you got that hooked up!
ha...ha......
Where do you get a key
There is a link in the description box of the video or home depot, lowes, hardware store.
What if the valve doesn't stop turning clockwise,is it broken?
Just turn it a 1/4 turn and that should give you a positive shut off. If not call the city and tell them they need to replace that valve.
I spinned it too much and now it won’t stop spinning? And water won’t come out ?
Cant see mine
just say "U" tip.
Why does mine keep turning
If it keep running when you shut it off it means you have a water leak. If you have a valve at the house shut it off and see if you have a leak on the water pipe under the ground.
If the water stops when you shut the valve off in the house then you there is a running toilet or something in the house or in the crawl space or under the slab depending on your set up. I hope this helps.
I give this video a 2 star review
--at best.
No sledgehammer tutorial, among the other tools shown, in turn shows that this man lacks real life experience.
Because sledgehammers are a universal tool for fixing everything.
Rusty gate won't open: sledgehammer.
Automobile engine repair: sledgehammer.
New, wide-bay picture window installation: sledgehammer.
Nagging wife won't shut up?..
Just show her your new sledgehammer from the hardware store, and smile.
Sledgehammers just WORK.
Believe me.
I will take that 2 stars! I love your thoughts about the sledgehammer review! I will make it happen!
I know they work! I was just using one today that was assisting us with some rusted bolts that did not want to come off!
So a sledgehammer is the duct tape of tools, got it 🤣🤣🤣
@MGTOW 1993 lol! The duct tape of tools.
U
Glad this helped!
Why they gotta make it so difficult? It’s 2024 out here 🤷🏼♂️