Burst Pipe Repair
Shut off the water, then fix the cracked or split length of pipe.
Plumbing guide
Finding the Main Water Shutoff in Fountain Hills, AZ
With a burst pipe, the opening move is cutting off the water. That is easy if you already know where the main valve is and have tested that it works. It is nearly impossible if you are looking for it with water running.
By the Fountain Hills Rapid Plumbing team ·
Where the main valve usually is
In most homes the main shutoff is on the line where it enters the house. Common places are a garage wall, a utility closet, an outside wall near the hose bib, or a basement or crawl space where one exists. Look for a pipe coming through the wall or slab with a handle or a wheel.
There is also a valve at the meter box near the street. That one belongs to the utility, and most providers ask customers not to operate it. Use the valve at the house, and ask your utility what the rules are for yours.
Gate valve or ball valve
A gate valve wears a round wheel, and clockwise turns close it. It takes several turns, and the stem can seize with age. A ball valve has a lever handle. A handle lying along the pipe means open, and swinging it a quarter turn across the pipe shuts the valve.
Ball valves are more reliable. If your house has an old gate valve, consider asking a plumber to replace it with a ball valve, since a gate valve that sticks fails when you most need it.
Valve types at a glance
Learn which type is on your house before an emergency forces the question.
| Valve | How it looks | To close it |
|---|---|---|
| Gate valve | Round wheel handle | Turn clockwise several times |
| Ball valve | Lever handle | Quarter turn across the pipe |
| Meter valve | Small valve in the street box | Leave to the utility |
| Fixture stop | Small oval handle at a sink or toilet | Turn clockwise |
Test it now, not during a leak
Once a year, close the main valve slowly, then open a tap to check that water stops. Then reopen it fully. If the valve is stiff, do not force it. Forcing can snap the stem and leave you with a leak at the valve.
While you are there, check for green corrosion, drips at the stem and rust. A weeping valve should be repaired before it fails.
Fixture shutoffs are your second line
Sinks and toilets each have a small stop valve on the supply line. Closing one stops water to that fixture only, which is useful for a quick fix. A water heater has its own cold-water shutoff above the tank.
Label the valves with tags so a family member can find them in a hurry. A photo on your phone showing where each one is can save minutes later.
What to do when a pipe bursts
Close the main valve, then open the lowest and highest taps in the house to drain the line. Kill the heater's power or gas too, so the tank cannot run empty and overheat. Photograph the damage before you clean up, and call a plumber.
Where floors or walls are soaked, turn to the water damage restoration page covers what comes after that. For the pipe itself, the burst pipe repair page explains what a plumber does.
If the valve will not close
A stuck valve is a real problem. Try working the handle back and forth gently. Do not pull on it with a long pipe wrench. If it will not move, call a plumber right away, and the utility if you must shut off at the meter.
Having a new, working shutoff installed is one of the least expensive protections against a flood.
Shutting off water to part of the house
You do not always need to close the main. Under each sink and behind each toilet is a small stop valve, and closing one isolates a single fixture. A dishwasher and an ice maker have their own stops as well.
Learning which stop belongs to which fixture takes ten minutes. Turn each one off and check the fixture so you know that the label is right.
After you turn the water back on
Open the main valve slowly to avoid a pressure surge. Open a tap near the main first to let air out of the lines, then the other taps one by one. Check each repaired joint for drips.
If water runs brown for a minute, let it clear. If it does not clear, flush the lines and check the filters and aerators for grit.
Make sure the whole household knows
A shutoff is useless unless whoever is wading through the mess can locate it. Walk each adult and older child to the main valve and demonstrate its direction. Put a bright tag on it and leave a flashlight and gloves nearby.
Add the location to a house notebook along with the water heater shutoff and the electrical panel. Guests, sitters and tenants should get the same page.
Replace a failing valve before the emergency
A valve that weeps at the stem, resists turning or has not been touched in years is a risk. Replacing a main valve means shutting off water at the meter, so plan it for a quiet day. The cost of a new ball valve is small compared with a flood.
Ask the plumber to add a union or a drain port so future work is easier. Keep the old valve handle with your records if it carries a brand name.
Leaving the house for a long trip
Many homes here are second homes or are empty for months. Closing the main valve when you leave prevents a small failure from becoming a flood. You can leave the water heater off as well.
When you return, open the valve slowly, check the meter and look for drips before you turn on the heater.
Common questions
Main shutoff questions
Start where the water line comes into the house, commonly a garage, utility room or exterior wall. The meter box has a second valve owned by the utility.
Clockwise to close, counterclockwise to open, usually several turns.
Providers generally want customers to use the valve at the house. Ask yours for its rule.
An annual check is a sensible habit.
Related services
Leak Detection
Find where hidden water is escaping, whether it is behind a wall, under a floor or along the buried line.
Water Line Repair & Replacement
Fix, or renew, the underground water pipe that serves your house, starting at the meter.
More plumbing guides
Tracking down a concealed water leak
Three quick tests and a walk around the yard will point you to most concealed leaks before anyone opens a wall.
Plumbing prep for an empty house
A house nobody visits can hide a small leak for weeks, and a short routine at departure and return prevents trouble.
Water pooling under the water heater
A puddle at the foot of a tank heater may come from a fitting, a valve or the tank shell, and the source decides the fix.
Valve jammed while water keeps flowing?
Call immediately, say where the water originates and list what you have tried so far.