How to Shut Off Water to House - No Special Tool Necessary!!

[@do7hemath937]

Thanks for making this majorly important video short. I've only found & looked at 2 that were under 2 minutes. I can't imagine why anyone would take 5 minutes or more to explain turning the key to the right. Good looking out

[@MowerMike]

I agree that is what I made it short and sweet, glad it helped.

[@PamelaGrantham]

Thanks for the straightforward video. The water company did work a while back, turning off everyone on the block's water multiple times. They didn't turn it back on properly-they should know this right? Nope, charged me $30 to "readjust" it & it still takes the toilet tank 10 minutes to refill-it took 1 minute before they "fixed" it. Now I can do it myself. Thanks

[@MowerMike]

Wow have never heard of a water company charging to turn the damn valve. Well done figuring it and fixing it without calling those screwballs!

[@vietcong411]

Thanks for this. I opened the small lid and could not find it. Thought it was in another box. Some grass and dirt formed over the bigger lid. Kinda of hard to open it fully, it was there after some digging.

[@MowerMike]

Yep it is a dirty job but will be easier next round

[@lemonhead162]

Those locust noises in the background remind me so much of the gulf coast! I grew up out in the country in Santa Fe and I remember in the summer always hearing that sound! I actually miss it!!

[@MowerMike]

Haha glad I brought back some memories. Santa Fe is a unique place to grow up for sure!

[@kylecain6685]

Actually, they're cicadas. Referring to them as locusts is a common mistake. I used to do the same.

[@devonstultz4529]

Wife was playing this video while water was gushing out of our house. Thankfully I got it closed

[@MowerMike]

That sucks glad you got it shut down. Good luck

[@Fierysaint1]

Guess I'm fresh out of water meter keys. Good ole' channel locks it is! Thanks man!

[@MowerMike]

Haha never have one when ya need it

[@KarlPonds-l8f]

I didnt find main valve outside but i do have that same outside box you have so i'll try that in morning. Thanks sir

[@MowerMike]

You got this!

[@treymeredith129]

My question is what tool would be used for a house built in 1940s. I’m not sure because it’s the original water meter and the city usually comes out to turn it off and on?

[@MowerMike]

I have no clue. Start with some vice grips

[@Sami-rp7mf]

SW Htown. Water valve outside. Is there a way to have a shut off installed near ir in house? I hate to go there and ahut it off and on. House was built in 2003 and never knew that i had to do it way. Many have inside the garage. I have checked mine but no luck. Thanks

[@MowerMike]

I am sure you could put a second one inside but the main one the water company puts in is out on the street.

[@Profphizx]

Thank you, from Florida

[@MowerMike]

You got it!

[@StephanieMontor]

Thanks from St.Pete l1

[@MowerMike]

You got it

[@captainjack6272]

Is there anything i can do if its stuck mine just does not wanna budge which is a very big problem seeing as it is in the off position

[@MowerMike]

I would spray it with some PB blaster let it sit and get the correct tool from the hardware store.

[@captainjack6272]

@@MowerMike oh wow I didn't actually expect a response thank you so much I appreciate it

[@MowerMike]

@@captainjack6272 Sure thing. Just remember that is free advice take it for what it is. Good luck

[@alanbreese6875]

Definitely DO NOT spray it with PB Blaster, WD40, or any other anti-sieze product - potable drinking water is flowing through the valve, and it can easily get sucked into your service line and you don't want to be drinking that. Besides, if the valve is/was already in the OFF position when you started looking at it, then you don't have an emergency situation. If it was ON and you turned it OFF and it's now stuck, just call your local water utility and have them come take a look. The curb stop (valve) belongs to your water utility. They're designed to last 30-50 years, but if not turned every so often they can break if care is not taken. And they are VERY expensive (about $200) - so if you break it you'll not only be paying for a replacement valve but also the labor charges to repair. Most water utilities are very responsive in situations like this, and will help you out at No Charge. They appreciate customers who proactively call and request help vs. having to deal with the consequences after a homeowner breaks something.

[@timvu8442]

Thank you this. Hopefully this will work.

[@MowerMike]

Good luck!

[@aquariusowens1680]

Thank you for making this video

[@MowerMike]

Hey glad it helped. I can’t believe so many people are watching it.

[@lovenothate]

i'm not in Houston and this is probably a lot later than this video was made, but we're in Nashville and in the midst of this freezing cold, we have a busted pipe under the house. We know where the shut off valve is, under the round thing in the garden. we know that there's a special shut off but it doesn't accept a wrench or pliers. We've tried! We've tried to wrench, we've even tried channel lock pliers, no such luck. The city water company has rigged it so that only a special tool works for the shut off valve which is insane! We reported it to them at 7 PM last night and here it is 12 hours later and they still haven't shut it off! What do we do? we are panicking. The water is not in the house but under it, so it's not as bad as it could be, but there's gonna be a lot of water damage and you know the city water companies going to charge us for all that water… Which is so unfair since we reported it 12 hours ago

[@MowerMike]

I would go to Lowe’s and get the shutoff valve tool. If that doesn’t work then just chill out. The damage is done, crappy things happen. Sorry not the bed advice, best of luck to ya.

[@alanbreese6875]

Your under-the-house shutoff valve probably had a steel handle, and it's likely rusted off. This happens over time, and the only way to resolve it for next time is to have it replaced. If you can get a utility-grade replacement which is 100% brass (no steel handle), so much the better. But those are very pricey ($150 or higher), and you won't find those at your local hardware store - you can only get those from a waterworks supply, or perhaps online. Look for a valve made by Ford Meter Box or AY McDonald.

[@cdb989]

Very home owner should know where the main water shut off is located, it will save you a big time

[@MowerMike]

Totally agree. Never want to be looking for your valve while the water is spraying

[@mikemaj8467]

How do you not consider the curb wrench a special tool?

[@MowerMike]

That does sound like a special tool. I need to get me one of them

[@alfredmatthews1746]

mine broke when i tried turning it off outside in my yard. does the city of houston fix broken main water valves? i sent a request on yesterday.

[@MowerMike]

Damn that sucks. If it is the main one at the street that is hooked on the official water meter then yes they should replace it.

[@saljablo2767]

Just don’t tell them you were messing with it.

[@sodoberman]

Was always pretty confident of this fact but this video helped me to confirm I do NOT live in Houston

[@MowerMike]

Haha you are a lucky man not to live in Houston.

[@SMITH0023]

Ty brother

[@gracie3174]

Well shutting off the water supply will get rid of unwanted house guest😂😉😆

[@MowerMike]

Bahaha. Maybe! Once those toilets stop flushing they will sneak out.

[@crand20033]

I can't get the cover off. That was why I was watching this so it didn't help.

[@MowerMike]

Thanks for letting us know.

[@stephencastrosc1]

It’s probably just the dirt that’s making it hard you gotta carve it out with a flat head or something and wedge it with a bigger flat head so it pries open

[@crand20033]

@@stephencastrosc1 OK so it's not locked

[@stephencastrosc1]

@@crand20033 they usually aren’t. There’s a little lever thing in the middle that you can flip up

[@21yashiro]

Why if is too tight even with w40 don’t move

[@MowerMike]

Get bigger pliers or turn it the other way