Do You Know Where Your Water Meter Valve Is?

In an emergency, would you be able to locate and shut off your water-meter valve or, if you live in the country, your pump switch? If not, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the task.

The main shut-off can be found at the water meter. Previous homeowners may have covered your meter with cabinetry or a pipe chase, so look for an access panel. Utility rooms and basement stairwells are also good places to look. If all else fails, follow the cold water inlet pipe from your water heater back to its source.

Once you have located your meter, notice that there is a valve on each side of it. Many meter valves have handles, but some will have only a bar that must be turned with a wrench. Both of these valves will stop water from entering your home.

If you merely wish to shut the water off, as when you leave on vacation or in the event of an emergency, either valve will do the job. If, however, you need to drain your water system, then both valves will need to be closed.

To drain your water system, first shut the street side of the meter off, then the house side. Place a bucket under the meter and loosen the meter union next to the house-side valve. A small amount of water will trickle out of the opened union. Then go through your home and open all the faucets to prevent air lock. Return to the basement and open the house side valve and slowly drain the water into the bucket.

In many cases, such as during toilet repairs, there is no need to drain the entire system. A toilet usually has a shut-off valve between the riser and the supply line under the tank. Some homes have shut-off valves under sinks and lavatories as well. When these valves are present, use them. It is almost always easier to isolate a single fixture than to put the entire system out of order.

To drain your water heater, shut off its water supply. If your heater has a cold water inlet valve, use it and leave the cold water side of the system on. If no inlet valve is present, you will have to shut the water supply to the entire house down at the meter.

Once the water to the heater is shut off, open all the hot water faucets to prevent air lock. Then open the spigot or drain valve at the base of the heater and drain off as much as you need for repair. Electric heaters require that power be first turned off to prevent the electrical element from rapidly burning out.

To recharge the system, just as you opened all the faucets to prevent an air lock when draining the system, you will need to open them to bleed air from the lines when recharging the system with water. Open the meter valves only partway. Then bleed the air from the newly charged lines.

After all the air in the system has escaped through the faucets, turn the faucets off and turn the meter valves all the way open. Small bursts of air may still escape through your faucets when you first use them after recharging, but all the air should be dissipated after the first full pressure draw. If you do not bleed trapped air from supply lines, the shock of air released under full pressure could damage faucet and supply tube seals.